In response to questions, Ishenapysova noted that according to the vaccination schedule, newborns receive their first vaccination in the maternity hospital within the first 24 hours of life, and then continue to receive vaccinations until the age of 1 at the primary level. “In the maternity hospital, the vaccination rate exceeds 90%, with about 145,000 children vaccinated annually; however, parents often refuse vaccinations at 2.5 and 5 months,” she added.
Previously, as a result of joint efforts with the Cabinet, DUMK, and local authorities, a resolution was adopted on the importance of vaccination, and a fatwa was issued. If earlier the refusal rate for vaccinations for religious reasons was up to 78%, it has now decreased to 43%. Nevertheless, among young parents, there is a growing distrust of vaccination, rising from 20% to 40% due to the spread of misinformation on social media.
Data from 2024 indicates that 19,000 people refused vaccinations; however, in 2025, this number decreased to 15,000, which was made possible through targeted work with imams, she reported.
Young parents expressed the opinion that only one fatwa on the benefits of vaccination had been issued and requested a fatwa for each of the 13 vaccines. Work continues in this direction with the DUMK and the National Committee on Religion, Ishenapysova noted.
According to her, vaccines are delivered on time and their supplies are sufficient.
- Note: A fatwa is a theological-legal opinion issued by a mufti or Islamic scholar on a specific issue, based on the Quran, Sunnah, and Sharia.
