Vaccinations are a hot topic for parents. The recent explosion of the anti-vax movement has caused alarm in the United States and other western countries. There have been several outbreaks of measles throughout the world in recent months, and those areas hardest hit have very low vaccination rates.
Why don’t parents vaccinate their kids?
Parents are able in some states to opt out of vaccinating their children due to philosophical or religious objections.
Some philosophical reasons that parents have can include any of the following:
- Exposure to toxins
- Possible permanent neurological damage
- Potentially serious side effects
- Pharmaceutical companies are profiting from vaccines
- Some vaccines (such as the flu shot) are ineffective.
While some of these are valid safety concerns, there is a certain level of risk when receiving a vaccination, just like with any medication.
There are countless valid arguments for and against vaccines, and that is outside of the scope of this article.
Any religious objections that Muslims have come from the non-halal ingredients in the vaccines themselves.
The fact is that there are no halal certified vaccines anywhere in the world. Does this mean that Muslims should not vaccinate their children against life-threatening diseases?
As Muslim parents, it is our obligation to find the truth as best we can and consult the experts so we can make the best possible decisions for our families.
In 2003, the World Health Organization issued a letter that contained a verdict from Islamic legal scholars that stated
“…it is permissible for observant Muslims to receive vaccines containing pork gelatin and to take medicine packaged in gelatin capsules.”
In other words, Islamic authorities are making broad exceptions to Muslim dietary laws for vaccinations because of their life-saving value. This is based on the “law of necessity” in Islamic jurisprudence that states:
“That which is necessary makes the forbidden permissible” in exceptional circumstances.
Some scholars say that immunizing ourselves is wajib (obligatory) when the risk for disease is high and when the vaccine’s benefits far outweigh its risks.
Through the implementation of vaccines, many lives have been saved. It is well documented by the World Health Organization among others, that smallpox has been completely eradicated from this earth through vaccination. Polio is also coming very close to being conquered through vaccines. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has made it their mission to eradicate Polio forever.
In 1988, only 31 years ago, the polio virus was in more than 125 countries, paralyzing 350,000 people every year. The World Health Assembly launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative to help eliminate the disease through a mass immunization campaign and they anticipate reaching that goal soon.
There is a legitimate fear when giving your child anything that has a serious risk attached to it. But the benefits have to be weighed against the risks, and it’s important to understand that there is overall a very high advantage
May Allah (swt) protect our children and keep them healthy. Ameen.
