100s of madrassas reject vaccination

MEERUT: Hundreds of madrassas across western Uttar Pradesh have refused permission to health officials to administer measles-rubella vaccines to students, putting lakhs of children at risk.

In Meerut alone, at least 70 of the 272 seminaries have refused entry to health officials. Meerut district immunization officer Vishwas Chaudhary said, "This is because of wrong information being spread mainly over WhatsApp. According to these messages, the vaccine can make a child impotent."

Reports from across the country of children falling sick after vaccination have added to the fear. However, health officials in almost all cases have clarified that the illnesses were because of factors not related to the vaccine .


"Some madrassas asked students to stay at home on the day of vaccination. We have now set up teams to conduct awareness drives and to inform people that the vaccine is safe," said Dr BS Sodi, chief medical officer, Saharanpur. Madrassas in Bijnor and Moradabad are also opposing the vaccination drive.

Measles is a highly-contagious disease which spreads through coughing and sneezing. According to a government report, over 49,000 children were killed in 2015 due to it. Rubella, according to WHO, is a contagious, mild viral infection that occurs most often in children and young adults. While rubella is the leading vaccine-preventable cause of birth defects, its infection in pregnant women may cause fetal death or congenital defects.

The state health department is now taking help from clerics to quell rumours. City qazi for Meerut, Qazi Zainus Sajidin, has in his sermon asked all madrassas to allow government teams into their campuses.

"The vaccine has no side-effects. It has been tested by doctors of Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Millia Islamia and no problem was found," he said.

Several other madrassas in Saharanpur, Bijnor and Moradabad have also taken a similar stand.

"Some madrassa authorities have asked students to stay at home on the day of vaccination. We have now made response teams which are conducting awareness drives and informing people that the vaccine is safe," said Dr BS Sodi, chief medical officer (CMO) Saharanpur.

Bijnor health authorities are also taking steps to spread awareness.

Bijnor CMO Dr Rakesh Mittal said a meeting of the religious heads was organised conducted by the district magistrate (DM) in Bijnor to convince the madrassas who have shown resistance.

Meanwhile, there have been Reports from acros the country of children falling sick after measles-rubella vaccination from across the country. It has have added to the fear. However, the health officials department in almost all the cases have clarified that the illnesses were because of factors not related to the vaccine. it was due to other factors and the vaccine was not to blame.