Kerala minister warns of action against anti-vaccine campaigns

Kerala Health and Social Welfare minister KK Shylaja Teacher warned that action will be taken against those who campaign against vaccination for diphtheria.

The Health department was trying to create an awareness about the benefits of vaccination. However, after conducting an inquiry into the diphtheria cases including two children, it was found that those affected by the disease, were not vaccinated, said the health minister.

The direction was given in the wake of growing number of diphtheria cases in the state. Two children died and eight others were affected with diphtheria in the past one month in Malappuram.

According to reports, a section of people in Malappuram was reluctant to undergo immunisation.

Discussions with religious organisations also showed they were not against the vaccination, the minister said.

She added, "Legal action would be initiated against those disrupting the vaccination programmes undertaken by health workers."

Recently, the Kerala Human Rights Commission ordered the government to make immunisation mandatory for seeking admission in educational institutions.

The commission had also said steps should be taken to examine if students were immunised and asked the government to take action against those campaigning against immunisation.

• diphtheria vaccines
• kerala health minister KK Shailaja Teacher