Diphtheria comeback, parents and community's attitude to be blamed

Recently the country was shocked by the death of two children from Melaka and Kedah due to diphtheria, which according to medical experts can be easily prevented through vaccination.

But no thanks to the attitude of some parents and members of the community, the disease has made a comeback.

Paediatrics specialist Datuk Dr Musa Nordin said he was surprised with the attitude of such parents and community for being complacent or rejecting preventive measures that could save the lives of their children.

"Diseases such as diphtheria have been eradicated but now making a comeback among children who do not receive vaccination and made worst by parents who refused to have their children vaccinated.

"A world epidemic is making a comeback. Not only diphtheria but also other diseases that can be prevented with vaccines such as measles, whooping cough and tetanus due to the attitude of parents and community members themselves. Of course, it is very worrying," he said when contacted by Bernama.

On June 18, a seven-year-old girl from the state died from diphtheria while a boy, aged two years, from Kedah died from the same disease, which the Health Ministry said was because both cases did not receive complete diphtheria immunisation.

On Friday, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahya said 500 cases of parents who declined the vaccination were recorded in the first three months of this year.

Dr Musa said it was high time the government took decisive steps to make diphtheria vaccination compulsory for every child to protect them from the 'uncceptable' attitude of parents and community that rejected it.

"Right now many children, between 90 to 95 per cent, are taking the vaccination nationwide but currently many are rejecting it so the government must take a firm step that only children such as leukemia, cancer and Aids patients are allowed not to be vaccinated," he said.

He said the government could emulate the 'No Jab, No Play' policy in Australia that did not allow a child who was not vaccinated to be enrolled in early education centres besides restricting the provision of child benefit to them.

Islamic Medical Association of Malaysia Prof Datuk Dr Abd Rahim Mohamad said said the loss of lives was deplorable, especially due to a misunderstanding by the public who obtained information from the social media with unproven credibility and scientific level.

"Such an attitude also stems from listening to religious arguments on the status of the vaccine from religious groups that do not have any expertise in medical matters," he said, adding that more competent religious groups should present the true facts to avoid any prejudices.

Dr Abd Rahim said the association viewed the vaccination as in line with Islamic teachings, that placed a priority on the protection of lives.

Melaka Health director Datuk Dr Ghazali Othman said the failure or the reluctance of parents to get the vaccine for their children not only endanger the lives of children and family members but even other members of the community.

He said with more people getting vaccinated, a group of people would get a form of protection called 'herd immunity' that enabled members of the community to be protected from the disease.