It is compulsory under Islam to use vaccines against diseases which could cause death, said Kelantan Mufti Datuk Mohamad Shukri Mohamad.

He said vaccines were needed to protect the infected person as well as others.

"If it makes a difference between life and death, it can be considered an emergency, so taking the vaccine is a must. However, it is optional if the situation is not an emergency," he told Bernama when commenting on the refusal by some parents to allow their children to be vaccinated.

Mohamad Shukri said the anti-vaccine group should not make any assumption that vaccines contained unclean or forbidden substances.

"The Health Ministry has researched and investigated the contents. Hence, the ruling cannot be based on perception. We have to trust the authorities," he said.

Meanwhile, Perak Mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria said the use of vaccines had been long approved, with every child required to be vaccinated.

"The law must be obeyed, on condition the vaccine is halal. But if there is no halal vaccine at the time as it contains forbidden substance, still it should be taken," he said.

Yesterday, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said the ministry was considering holding discussions with the National Fatwa Council on the edict on vaccine use.

Dr Hilmi also gave the assurance that all vaccines were halal and did not contain pig DNA.

Meanwhile, a spokesman of the Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim) said there had been no discussion on the matter with the Health Ministry.

"We will wait for the Health Ministry to consult Jakim first," he said.