News From : DagangHalal.com (11 Jun 2009)
KUCHING, June 10 (Bernama) — The Health Ministry Wednesday confirmed that the meningitis vaccine administered to umrah and haj pilgrims were halal and free from pig enzymes as alleged by the Indonesian Ulema Council recently.
Its deputy minister, Datuk Rosnah Shirlin Abdul Rashid Shirlin said there was no doubt regarding the vaccine in this country because the meningococcal quadrivalen ACYW 135 vaccine was supplied by the Lembaga Tabung Haji and was verified to be free of traces of cow or pig.
“There are no problems with the vaccine we provided for the umrah and haj pilgrims and it is not an issue in Malaysia, so haj pilgrims need not worry about its contents,” she told reporters after launching the 22nd Malaysia-Thailand Border Health Goodwill Committee Meeting, here today.
In her speech, Rosnah said various infectious chronic diseases such as cholroquine resistant falciparum malaria, avian influenza and Influenza A/H1N1 were posing threats to people worldwide.
She said both Malaysia and Thailand need to step up their cooperation to prevent the disease from spreading.
“People should always practice precautionary measures and good nutrition, as well as be alert about their surroundings,” she said.
Rosnah said this following scientists’ concern that the H1N1 mutation could become worse if the said factors were taken lightly.
Among other things, the four-day meeting will also discuss current issues on public health, especially in handling infectious diseases at the border areas, as well as exchanging views and experiences in managing public health and other related matters.
— BERNAMA