Vaccinations: put straw or fall into same trap twice?

In the world, including our country, in recent decades many parents are thinking about whether to vaccinate their children or not. Today there are many conflicting opinions on this subject. Some believe that the child's body should cope with illnesses itself, while others are vaccinated repeatedly.

This topic has become particularly relevant after a measles outbreak in the country. The infection spread rapidly. Mostly vulnerable are teenagers and young adults aged 10 to 19 years, doctors say. This is the segment of the population, which was not fully covered by vaccination at the time.

Do parents have the right to refuse vaccinations? Yes, it is a voluntary thing. But do those who neglect them know about threatening diseases, to which they condemn their children? Usually not. And whether vaccinations can harm?

24.kg news agency introduces the opinion of our respondents on this issue.

Zholdosh Kalilov, director of the National Center for immunization:

- Every child has the right to be protected from infectious diseases through vaccination and vaccination should be done timely, free and according to the place of residence. Unfortunately, over the past two or three years the number of people refusing vaccination, especially on religious grounds, and in particular among young people has increased. They argue that vaccination - it is haraam and that the body of the child should not be damaged, and his blood shouldn't be taken. At present, there are about 6,400 children whose parents refuse vaccination, 4,408 cases of which do it for religious reasons. 

However, they forget that every year pilgrims go to the Hajj in Mecca. Saudi Arabia demands from our citizens to be vaccinated against meningitis and influenza, that is, in this Muslim country authority fully ensure prevention by vaccination of the population. But some of our followers of Islam refuse.

Because of the growth of internal and external migration this issue becomes even more relevant because of our able-bodied citizens and their families go to Kazakhstan, Russia. Then come and leave their children with relatives. And we don't know if the children received vaccination abroad or here. These children are at risk. However, educated population also refuses and their number in the capital is growing. They read on the Internet nonsense and believe it. To obtain reliable information, contact the Family Medicine Center according to the place of residence.

If not to do vaccination against mumps timely, a boy, who will become sick, in the future may become infertile. And if a pregnant woman becomes infected with rubella, children are born with congenital malformations. Measles often gives complications on the organs of sight, hearing, there may be inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia). All of this is scientifically proven.

Polio is not recorded in Kyrgyzstan since 1993. Today, in modern medicine, there is no medication to treat the disease, and the only thing that saves the child - vaccination.

Tinatin Toksombaeva, pediatrician at school №5: 

- Yes, indeed, the issue is topical, and as a person working in the health sector for many years, I can say with certainty that vaccinations should be done, because in this way we worry about ourselves in advance and not waiting consequences.

In our school there are about 2,300 students, there is also a boarding school. Because of the outbreak of measles, situation is tense: we work from 7 a.m., check all the children, teachers and parents, we measure temperature, control the general state of their health. Teachers warned about the first symptoms of the disease, explanatory dialogs are being conducted in classrooms.

- How to protect yourself from this disease?

- Since measles is transmitted by airborne, it is necessary to wear masks as a preventive use of oxolinic ointment which has an antiviral effect. The main thing - it is necessary to strengthen the immune system, eat more fruits and vegetables. Often ventilate the room, do wet cleaning.

- There is information that vaccine is not enough, is that true?

- We have calculated who need vaccinations, and requested the required number of doses.

I want to warn that even if a person got vaccinated, it is likely that he will be sick, but it will be benign. If a person was sick once, the immunity remains for life.

- How is measles treated?

- It is symptomatic disease. At high temperatures, medicines to reduce it are given. Key recommendations - bed rest, drink a lot, in case of complications antibiotics are prescribed. There is no special medicine for measles.  

Bermet Borbuchalova, mother:

-I believe that we need vaccinations. I have three children, and from an early age they get vaccinated. Especially my mom is paramedic, and she understands that this procedure is very important, always reminding me about it and talks about risks in case of refusal or omission.

The elders are now ten years old, they have received all vaccinations without gap. Among my friends there are no people who would be against. They are all educated and understand that it is better to protect your child in advance.

Firuza Alimbaeva, mother:

-I am a young mother, but I take care of my child's health thoroughly. Although my son was not born in Kyrgyzstan, but in Turkey, we have received all vaccinations on schedule.

People in this country pay great attention to this issue. Most citizens of Turkey are Muslims, and even health care workers wear hijab. But there is no rejection of vaccination for religious or other beliefs, at least I have not heard about it.

Gulnara Barktabasova, pediatrician of Family Practice Center №6:

-As a doctor, I say that vaccinations are necessary, because it is prevention of disease. It is better to protect yourself than deal with consequences, which are very heavy, especially after measles.

We, health professionals, do everything in our hands: vaccinate, inform people, check every suspicious case for preventing epidemic. But citizens should go to meet us. Now the clinics revealed 17 cases and the analysis found out that it's mostly objectors, migrants and students. People are often reluctant by religious beliefs.

For example, recently there was a case when a family revealed a son is sick with measles. We offered the rest members of the family to be vaccinated, since everyone had contact with the patient, but they flatly refused. After a while daughter and mother got sick, and then father came and asked for vaccination. We conduct a thorough interview with such people, explain that vaccination is done for their own good and health. And another patient said that her husband is against vaccinations, but she came secretly at least for herself.

-Can a person get vaccinated without residence registration?

-Of course, they just need to go to hospital in the community. We also have patients coming without a residence permit or even citizenship of Kyrgyzstan (former compatriots). They ask to be vaccinated and we check them. If you had contact with a sick or not previously vaccinated, then, of course, we do it.

Kadyr Malikov, theologian:

-Islam doesn't prohibit vaccination, but rather encourage. Concern about health and safety of life is a part of one of the five priorities and basics of Shariah, which, of course, includes prevention. It is impossible to use only those drugs which contain prohibited components, for example, serum from pig cells, while everything else is permitted, including blood transfusions.

In all countries, including Saudi Arabia, all children are vaccinated. There is a fact that we have no competent explanation to eliminate doubts. The reason for refusal of vaccination is a distrust of Western drugs. Internet has plenty of unconfirmed information that vaccinations are used to conduct experiments in order to reduce population in Muslim countries. Also, there is a perception that there is expansion of pharmaceutical market that supposedly its employees create a disease and then they come up with cure for them. The joint work of the Ministry of Health and Muftiyat is important. They should give explanation from scientific point of view and ensure that vaccine does not contain hazardous substances and will not cause harm.

The Kyrgyz Muslims Spiritual Directorate:

 -Each person is responsible for his own health. Whatever the disease may be, each of us must first consult with specialists. All are entitled to receive vaccinations against one or another disease. The Ministry of Health of the KR exists for this. The ministry, taking control of the population, is responsible for health of citizens and ensures that the disease does not spread.

Preventive work on benefits and dangers of vaccination is the responsibility of the Ministry of Health. People often say that medicines in Kyrgyzstan are smuggled, that this process is not controlled by law enforcement authorities. This has created distrust of citizens. People have anxiety, confusion and distrust of vaccines because of reports, information in the media, on websites and activists about dangers of vaccination. The Kyrgyz Republic has a low level of awareness about certification of conformity of vaccines: against which diseases, what is their composition, storage conditions. All these and untimely, inaccurate information on state guarantees for this vaccine is the cause of current situation.

Currently, medical professionals say that some citizens, including believers refuse vaccinations. This event is voluntary. Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of Kyrgyzstan, not staying on the sidelines, in mosques in Friday sermons conducts regular preventive work with  population of the need to care about their health.