Thailand’s Vaccinations Against Measles May Continue

Thailand's Islamic spiritual leader known as the Chularajamontri has unofficially ruled that Muslims can receive measles vaccine, reported The Nation. 

The Chularajamontri has the authority to administer all Islamic affairs in the nation and to provide advice on Islamic affairs to governmental agencies. 

Ahmad Abdull Hazima, an Islamic leader in Yala, said to The Nation ‘The Chularajamontri and 39 provincial Islamic committees have made unofficial rulings that vaccines are not prohibited by Islam.’ 

Ahmad said the Islamic leaders said ‘that although vaccines have not been formally approved as being "haral" or allowed by the religion, they were not formally prohibited either.’ 

These Islamic leaders considered that vaccines were necessary to keep Muslims healthy so that they could continue practicing their religious activities. 

As a result, the spiritual leaders said ‘that the use of vaccines would not violate Islam.’ 

This ruling was sought after an outbreak of measles continues to spread.   

As of November 8, 2018, Thailand's Department of Health Service Support (DHSS) reported the ongoing measles outbreak in the provinces have confirmed 1,515 cases and 12 deaths. 

The DHSS reported that the majority of patients are babies and children who have not been vaccinated. 

The DHSS has instructed the Primary Health Care Division, the Institute for Health Service System Innovation Development of Yala and the Office of Health Service Support Region 12 to implement measures to prevent the spread of measles in Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla provinces. 

Doctors are rushing to finish vaccinating all children in the southernmost provinces after the outbreak began in the border region in June 2018. 

DHSS said ‘it expects this measles outbreak to be contained after all boys and girls receive their vaccinations.’   

The measles virus is a highly contagious and infectious airborne disease that spreads easily through the coughs or sneezes of infected people and can lead to deadly complications, says the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).   

Since approximately 1 million USA citizens visit Thailand each year, the CDC updated its recommended vaccinations on March 12, 2018. 

The CDC says to make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines including the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot. 

Additionally, the CDC says the Zika virus is a health risk in Thailand, and pregnant women should not travel to Thailand. 

Moreover, as of October 29, 2018, Thailand confirmed an accelerating dengue virus outbreak, that has now reached 70,146 cases and 126 related deaths, from 77 provinces. 

For USA travelers, vaccines and travel medicines are available at certified pharmacies.

To schedule a pre-trip vaccine appointment with a local pharmacy, visit Vax-Before-Travel.