THE MALAYSIAN PAEDIATRIC ASSOCIATION MAY 2019 FOR MEMBERS ONLY Editorial Board Discussion on Vaccines Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail Dr Selva Kumar Sivapunniam MPA 2017 – 2019 at the Parliament EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 18 March 2019, Kuala Lumpur President AP Dr Muhammad Yazid Jalaludin Immediate Past President Dr Thiyagar Nadarajaw Group picture Vice-President of meeting Dr Hung Liang Choo attendees with Secretary Deputy Health AP Dr Tang Swee Fong Minister and Federal Asst Secretary Territories Dr Selva Kumar Sivapunniam Mufti seated Treasurer flanking Dato’ Dr Musa Mohd Nordin chairperson Committee Members Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail Datuk Dr Soo Thian Lian Discussed Jurisprudential (fiqh) Dr Noor Khatijah Nurani and academic discourse of the Dr Khoo Teik Beng concept of “halal” vaccines, Dr Mohamad Ikram Ilias Hukum (religious edicts) on the Dr Ong Eng-Joe uptake of vaccines based on the higher objectives (maqasid) of the Honorary Auditors Shari’ah and towards the dasar Prof Wan Ariffin Abdullah (policy) of considering mandatory Prof Dr Thong Meow Keong immunisations Affiliated to: • Malaysian Council For Child Welfare A round table discussion on the issue of I represented both the Malaysian • ASEAN Pediatric Federation halal vaccines was held at the premises Paediatric Association (MPA) and • Asia Pacific Pediatric Association of our August Malaysian Parliament Islamic Medical Association Malaysia – APPA (Previously Association of on 18 March. It was efficiently chaired (IMAM) Pediatric Societies of the South East by the Deputy Minister (Religion) in the Asian Region – APSSEAR) PM’s Department, YB Puan Hajjah YB Chairlady set the 3 parameters of our • International Pediatric Association Fuziah Salleh. expected outcomes: (IPA) 1. Jurisprudential (fiqh) and academic Major stakeholders were present which The Berita MPA is published for members to discourse of the concept of “halal” keep them informed of the activities of the included SS Dato’ Seri Dr Hj Zulkifli vaccines. Association and to keep up with developments Mufti of Wilayah Persekutuan, Deputy in paediatrics and child health. 2. Hukum (religious edicts) on the uptake Ministers YB Hannah Yeoh (KPWKM) and of vaccines based on the higher YB Dr Lee Boon Chye (MOH), Deputy objectives (maqasid) of the Shari’ah. The views and opinions in all the articles DG JAKIM, National Pharmaceutical are entirely those of the authors unless Regulatory Agency (NPRA), Malaysian 3. Towards the dasar (policy) of otherwise specified. Pharmaceutical Society, academics considering mandatory immunisations. We invite articles and feedback from and captains of pharmaceutical readers – Editor <[email protected]> industries. SS Dato’ Seri Mufti cited evidence from the Quran, authentic traditions and continued on page 3… Unit 16-07, 16th Floor, Menara Arina Uniti, 97, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-2202 7099 Fax: 03-2602 0997 Email: [email protected] Website: https://mpaeds.my BERITA MPA – MAY 2019 • 1 FromReport The President Visit our overhauled website: www.mpaeds.my Assalamualaikum and Salam that Dato Musa has done a great well as the forum on ‘Behavioural Sejahtera to esteemed members job. I was later informed by many Interventions for Optimal of MPA! colleagues that this program Growth: Practical Psychology for had influenced many vaccine- Paediatricians’. The discussions Friends and Colleagues, hesitant parents to vaccinate then continued at 3 breakout their children. Dato Musa also sessions led by the expert panel 10 April 2019 marks the ONE year represented MPA in a meeting on on how to effectively assess and anniversary of the fresh, new look Halal Vaccine held on 20 March manage growth and feeding MPA website, mpaeds.my. Over 2019 which you would be able to problems. the last one year, I am delighted get a full report on page 1. to see that the new MPA website received thousands of visitors per IPA Congress @ month, many folds more than the Vaccination heroes Panama usual number seen previously. MPA together with Ministry The International Paediatric The constant effort put up by the of Health and World Health Association (IPA) recently held website committee to keep the Organization, hosted the National their 29th Congress at Panama website updated at all times has Immunization Day Campaign City from 17-21 March 2019. During launched by the paid off. I also believe that the Health Minister this congress Datuk Dr Zulkifli restructuring of the website and Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad Ismail was elected into the IPA monthly electronic data mailers, on 28 April 2019 at Taman Tasik Standing Committee, a very apart from the effort to keep the Cempaka, Bandar Baru Bangi. prestigious and important position. content updated at all times, in a This campaign was in conjunction Congratulations Datuk Zul! You way has kept the eagerness of our with the World Immunization have definitely made us and members to visit it every month. Week celebrated throughout the Malaysia proud! world from 24 to 30 April 2019. I More on vaccination am delighted to announce here that Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail and Grants for grabs In the last few months, despite our Dato Dr Musa Mohd Nordin were Dear esteemed members, as you busy schedule, MPA continued to selected as one of the National know allocation for grants has show our strong commitment and Immunization Hero during the been increased to a maximum of support in childhood immunisation, launching ceremony. What a RM10,000 for FIVE grants per year. particularly on pneumococcal proud moment for MPA! More As of now, a few grants are still vaccination. Myself and a number photos and details about this on available for grab. I would like to of council members, in particular pages 8 & 9. encourage all members to submit Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail and Dato your applications and grab this have Dr Musa Mohd Nordin Growth summit grant opportunities offered under been attending meetings held the MPA banner. Information by the government agencies, Another huge milestone achieved about grant application is in particular Ministry of Health by MPA with regards to children’s available through our MPA and Jabatan Perdana Menteri growth was the gathering of website. (Agama) as well as the World more than 170 paediatricians Health Organization (WHO), nationwide on 6 & 7 April 2019 Lastly, I would also like to take providing ideas and comments, in Putrajaya for the Growth, this opportunity to invite all of as we believe that everyone Feeding and Nutrition Summit. you to the 41st MPA Annual should work together to make These paediatricians sacrificed Congress which would be held vaccination available and their weekend to be trained in conjunction with the 15th accessible to every child. and equipped to help children Asian Oceanian Congress of achieve their full growth potential. Child Neurology (AOCCN) on I believe all of us still remember Participants were particularly 19th to 22nd September 2019 the epic battle on immunisation interested in the panel discussion at Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala between Dato Musa and Dr Nurul which touched upon the Lumpur. The theme “Synergy to Huda in Analisis by TV al-Hijrah on ‘Early Nutritional Interventions: Challenge Boundaries in Child 15 February 2019. Needless to say Challenges and Opportunities’ as 2 • BERITA MPA – MAY 2019 Report … from page 1 fatwas of contemporary scholars to proclaim that the uptake of vaccines is wajib (mandatory). This includes immunisation in both children and adults. And parents must ensure their children are immunised according to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) I emphasised three points: Neurology” augurs well with MPA’s 1. The importance of being careful with the use of the vision of providing a highly stimulating “halal vaccines” terminology. It gives a wrong impression and cutting edge scientific programme that there are vaccines which are haram and the anti- to our members. Dr Khoo Teik Beng as vaxxers abuse this ambiguity to drive home their point the Congress President and his team that vaccines are not Islamic. This is based on the pivotal fiqh maxim - Permissibility (Halal) is the default ruling has assured us that the latest updates for everything in social transactions (muamalat) in the in Child Neurology is in place. To all absence of a clear prohibition (al-asl fi al-ashyaa’ al- members, do mark the date and try Ibahah) your very best to attend this year’s congress. 2. The fatwa from SS Dato’ Seri Mufti (and SS Dato’ Mufti Perlis) is a major shift and is a much stronger opinion from In the next few days, we will be the current position of the National Fatwa Council which celebrating Ramadhan. On behalf declares vaccines as mubah, harus and permissible. of MPA council, I would like to wish all 3. The outcomes of this RTD would jive well and should be of you a blessed Ramadhan. Please shared with the MOH Task Force to study the feasibility of continue to pray for all of us, to be mandatory immunisations. given the strength and the health to continue working for kids in Malaysia. The task force met twice on 9 and 13 March 2019 to collect information from various specialties including paediatrics, Last but not least, I would also like to infectious diseases, epidemiologist etc. to address 8 specific wish Salam Eidul Fitri, Maaf Zahir Batin. questions (e.g. legal implications, enforcement issues, penalties etc.) related to mandatory immunisations. They were very appreciative of the support from JAKIM and hope to organise another meeting on 27 March 2019 and invite other stakeholders for their opinions and feedbacks. Addressing National Policy To address on national policy, SS Dato’ Seri Mufti quoted Imam Shafie (RA) who said that “sebarang tindakan pemerintah mesti dilingkari dengan maslahah ammah” (every action of the government must ensure that the welfare and wellbeing of the community is protected and preserved). And since mandatory immunisations protect the health and well-being of the child who is most vulnerable especially below 7 years old, it should be seriously considered.