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Parents still believe hoaxes about measles, rubella vaccines: Councillor
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Many parents believe hoaxes saying the measles-rubella vaccine is haram and could cause infertility. (Shutterstock/-)
F
ake news about the ingredients of measles-rubella vaccines have resulted in many parents refusing to let their children be vaccinated against the infectious diseases, a City Council member has said.
Secretary of the council’s Commission E, which oversees health issues, Veri Yonnevil, said many parents believed the fake news claiming the vaccine was haram and could cause infertility.
“The vaccine is safe, halal. The hoaxes are misleading, yet believed by residents,” Veri said Wednesday as quoted by kompas.com.
The Jakarta Health Agency should raise public awareness about the benefits of being vaccinated, Veri said.
“The health officers in community health centers [Puskesmas] and subdistricts should go to the residents [and tell them about the importance of vaccines],” he said.
Agency head Koesmedi Priharto said as of Oct. 3, 200,000 children in Jakarta had not been vaccinated against measles and rubella.
However, the number was expected to significantly decrease, as the agency was attempting to provide vaccinations to children aged 9 months to 15 years old, he said. (cal)
