PUTRAJAYA, March 7 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said today that parents cannot be forced to vaccinate their children as it is their choice.

This comes after Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik had stated that it is a child’s right to receive education, as Dr Wan Azizah had on Friday said the government was mulling on the possibility of only allowing immunised children to enroll into schools.

“We encourage parents to have their children vaccinated, but right now we cannot force them as it is their choice.

“But we would like for parents to protect their children by vaccinating them before they catch the disease,” she told reporters when met after launching the new Special Needs (OKU) card at Sekolah Kebangsaan Putrajaya Presint 9 (2), here, today.