Newcastle GP reassures Muslims they can get the Covid-19 vaccine during Ramadan
People across Staffordshire and Cheshire observing the holy month have been worried
Last updated 13th Apr 2021
As Ramadan gets underway, Staffordshire and Cheshire's Muslim community are being urged to still keep their Covid vaccine appointments after some hesitancy about having the jab during the holy month.
It involves fasting between sunrise and sunset but experts and faith leaders are reassuring those observing it that getting vaccinated is still allowed and won't break their fast.
Dr Waheed Abbasi is a GP in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Clinical Director of Mental Health and Specialist Groups at NHS Staffordshire Stoke-on-Trent CCG. He said:
"The vast majority of Muslim scholars locally I spoke to say they are of the view that having the coronavirus vaccine does not invalidate your fasting.
"It contains no animal products; there's no alcohol in these injections - there may be a little bit in the AstraZeneca jab - but it's deemed negligible. There's nothing in these injections which will invalidate your fasting - and the message is we need to continue to have our vaccines when offered.
"That's the view of majority of Islamic scholars as well. We have had very helpful guidance from the Islamic Medical Association and also the Muslim Council of Britain. Their advice is that there's nothing in these injections which will invalidate fasting."
"There's nothing in these injections which will invalidate your fasting"
"In terms of side effects, there may be some cold or flu like symptoms, you might get mild aches and pains, also there may be pain at the site of the injection - and in those cases, you might have to take some fluids and you might have to take paracetamol or some tablets. That might invalidate your fasting. So those things, obviously, you have to keep in mind."
"If you have any pre-existing medical conditions - people with underlying conditions - if you're fasting and you're going to have the vaccine, it might be worth seeking some advice from GPs or clinicians."