We’re reassuring the local Muslim community that receiving a COVID-19 vaccination during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan does not contravene the requirement to fast.
Ramadan begins on Monday 12/Tuesday 13 April (depending on moon sightings) and will see observant Muslims not eat or drink during daylight hours. There is concern that some people may believe receiving a vaccine during Ramadan may inadvertently break the fast.
Dr Ijaz Anwar, a consultant with the Trust and practising Muslim, said: “I would urge everyone to get their COVID-19 jab, even if it’s during Ramadan. It will not affect your fast. You can even check this with your Imam at your local mosque.”
The Trust has recorded a series of short videos featuring the multi-lingual Dr Anwar appealing for fasting Muslims to accept their vaccination appointments during Ramadan. The videos, which will be shared on the Trust’s social media feeds throughout April, have been recorded in English, Urdu and Punjabi.
Dr Anwar’s appeal
Vaccination during Ramadan
Ijaz: My name is Dr Ijaz Anwar, I’m one of the consultant physicians working at North Tees Hospital.
On-screen caption: Doctor Ijaz Anwar is reassuring all Muslims that having the COVID-19 vaccine during Ramadan does not break the fast.
Ijaz: It’s Ramadan and at the same time, we are seeing reducing numbers of Covid.
I would urge all of you to get your Covid jab done, even if it’s Ramadan.
On screen caption: Please take your vaccination appointment, even if it falls during daylight, fasting hours.
Ijaz: It will not affect your fast. You can check with your local imam of the mosque.
Now there are lots of centres in local mosques as well. Please do take it.
At the same time, we still have to carry on taking up precautions, using masks and washing hands frequently.
At the other end of Ramadan, we see Eid.
Thank you.
Dr Ijaz Anwar’s message are also available in Punjabi and Urdu:
National advice about your COVID-19 jab during Ramadan
The British Medical Journal offers the following advice: “People from some ethnic minority backgrounds, such as black, Bangladeshi and Pakistani, may be more hesitant to receive a covid vaccination because they don’t want to compromise their fast. It is important for these groups to know that having vaccines intramuscularly during fasting time (dawn to dusk) does not nullify one’s fast and vaccination should not be delayed.”
Trust staff who encounter vaccine hesitancy from Muslim patients will sensitively advise that, as the British Medical Journal suggests, injections do not invalidate the fast and are not in contradiction with the teachings of Islam.