Coronavirus vaccination doesn’t harm fast: Ministry

KABUL (Pajhwok): The administration of coronavirus vaccine doesn’t harm fasting and people can get injected during the month of Ramzan, the Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs (MoHRA) said  on Wednesday.

The Haj Ministry said this in response to an official letter from the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH).

A copy of the letter available with Pajhwok Afghan News says with the beginning of the holy month of Ramazan coronavirus cases had surged in Afghanistan and neighbouring Pakistan and Iran.

This comes as the number of coronavirus positive cases have surged five times compared to cases emerged one month ago.

According to MoPH, 128 positive coronavirus were registered in the country on Tuesday while last month on the same date 23 cases registered.

A part of the letter said: “Coronavirus vaccination is underway currently. In order to prevent a possible halt to vaccination during the month of Ramazan, let the citizen know about vaccination during Ramazan so this process continues smoothly and a catastrophic situation is prevented.”

Besides adhering to all precautionary measures to prevent coronavirus infection, the administration of vaccine is similarly vital to prevent the spread of this deadly disease, the letter said.

This letter demanded the MoHRA to share the religious fatwa regarding the administration of coronavirus vaccine with the people.

A letter from the MoHRA said: “According to religious scholars and contemporary jurists, the administration of intravenous (IV) or intramuscular injection based on necessity to a fasting person is permitted provided that the practice doesn’t harm the sprite of fasting.”

Jurisprudential arguments are following

• What enters the body through the nostrils and not through the pores is not contrary to fasting; It is like a fasting person taking a bath with cold water and feeling the cold in his liver
• Injection in general, whether in the muscle or in the vein, does not cause iftar; Unless the purpose is nutrition
• intravenous (IV) or intramuscular injection doesn’t break fast and if possible it could be administered after Iftar

Coronavirus vaccination is religious and moral responsibility

Mufti ShamsurrahmanFarotan said coronavirus administration has no adverse impact on fasting person.

He said not only coronavirus vaccine but all other injection the purpose of which is not nutrition are allowed to be administered during Ramazan.

He added: “Coronavirus vaccination is an Islamic and moral responsibility and has no hazard.”

He asked people in order to secure themselves from coronavirus and other disease they can administer vaccine and also observe fast.

MoPH:

MoPH Spokesperson GhulamDastagir while referring to fatwa from the MoHRA said that the letter had been dispatched to all provinces.

He said people above the age of 18 are advised to administer coronavirus vaccine.

He said coronavirus vaccination is underway in all state run health centeres and people are advised to refer to these facilities and administer the vaccine.

According to the MoPH coronavirus vaccine has the following benefits

• Prevent death from coronavirus particularly of individuals at high risk
• It prevents spread of coronavirus in society and brings down the positive cases of the virus
• It revives basic health activities in the country
• It improves anti-body against the virus and create over all impunity to root out the virus

This comes that earlier the Al-Azhar University issues Fatwa in this regard and said that coronavirus vaccination doesn’t harm fast.

“This Investigative Report was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Pajhwok and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.”