West Sumatera continues with MR immunization
Ilustrasi - imunisasi maeles dan rubella (Ist)
Padang, Aug 4 (Antaranews Sumbar) - The Government of West Sumatra Province will go ahead with the implementation of measles and rubella (MR) immunizations for children in the age group of nine months to 15 years.
West Sumatra Health Office Chief Merry Yuliesday remarked here on Saturday that despite the pros and cons of the vaccine's ingredients that have yet to receive a halal certification from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), the MR immunization will go ahead.
The MUI is Indonesia's top Muslim clerical body, founded by the Indonesian New Order under the Suharto administration in 1975 as a body to produce fatwa and to advise the Muslim community on contemporary issues.
An important function of the MUI is to provide halal certification for products, including but not limited to foods, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and clothing.
"We in West Sumatra will continue on schedule," Yuliesday noted in connection with several regions that had temporarily halted the implementation of the MR immunization on the recommendation of the MUI.
She noted that until Friday, the West Sumatra Health Office had yet to receive any letter related to the immunization from the MUI, so its implementation will go ahead.
Based on the schedule, the immunization will be conducted from August 1 to the end of September 2018, with a target of 1.5 million children in West Sumatra.
During the process of familiarizing the local public with the immunization, the West Sumatra Health Office is collaborating with several related organizations and parties.
Yuliesday remarked that the office had also coordinated with the MUI regarding the implementation of immunization.
According to Yuliesday, the vaccine's ingredients that have yet to receive halal certification from the MUI are feared to pose obstacles in the implementation of immunization, as the Muslim communities in the province are reluctant to use non-halal-based vaccines.
During an audience with the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) that monitored the immunization preparations, Yuliesday had requested that the agency encourage vaccine manufacturers to obtain halal certificates from the MUI in Indonesia, but this has not yet been realized.
"This immunization is important to prevent disabilities and abnormalities in children. Hence, we urge parents to participate for the success of this program," she added.
