KOZHIKODE: Naturopath Jacob Vadakkanchery is an anti-vaccination campaigner, who speaks against immunisation of children wherever he can. He had planned to address a PTA meeting at the A.U.P. S. aided school, Nellisherry, near Edappal, on Friday (Sept 15). However, his bid was thwarted by the timely intervention of health workers associated with Vattamkulam primary health centre. They tipped off the Malappuram deputy director of education and the programme was cancelled at the eleventh hour.
The incident happened at a time when teachers have been undergoing awareness training for the measles, rubella (MR) vaccination campaign to be kickstarted next month. The PTA meeting was convened despite a circular from the DDE office that no person should be invited from outside for sessions in schools without the consent of the district medical officer (DMO).
“Jacob Vadakkanchery is a person who speaks against modern medicines and immunisation programme. When the health department is trying hard to raise the immunisation level, such talks among students and parents would give a negative message,” said district RCH (reproductive and child health) officer Dr R. Renuka.
The school is near the place where a 12-year-old boy had died recently due to diphtheria. Edappal AEO Pradeep Kumar told DC that the programme was organised to discuss ‘natural health and food’ and that it was cancelled once the error was pointed out.
In 2015, the DMO had urged the government to initiate legal action against Mr Vadakkanchery for spearheading the campaign against vaccination. Malappuram is the lone district in the state to come under the centre’s Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) programme for its low immunisation rate. There are close to 26,000 children under the age of five who are non-immunised or partially immunised.
