MUSLIM communities in Bradford have been reassured that the Covid vaccine has been verified and recommended for at-risk people.

Bradford Council tweeted today that the Pfizer/BioTech Covid vaccine has been verified and recommended by the British Islamic Medical Association (British IMA) for eligible at-risk individuals in Muslim communities.

The British IMA advice to Muslim communities on the Covid vaccine has been issued after consulting Muslim health care professionals, Islamic scholars and Muslim umbrella bodies from across the UK.

The body has consulted various experts in infectious diseases, the pharmaceutical industry, clinical medicine, commissioning, inequalities research, public health and bioethicists to produce a statement on the Pfizer/BioNTechCovid-19 vaccine that is set to be rolled out in the UK, and how it relates to the Muslim community in Britain.

In the statement, the British IMA answered a number of questions on the vaccine. These included that the vaccine does not contain any animal products and no animal derived cells were used.

It added there are no major reported side effects of having the vaccine, they are the same as most vaccinations such as mild fever. and it has been reviewed by the Medicine & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency) – the regulatory body for medicines, which found it is safe.

The British IMA also explained why the Covid vaccine is particularly important to the Muslim community.

The body says many UK Muslims are from ethnic minorities at more risk from Covid-related complications/death, but also tend to be more vaccine hesitant. The British IMA adds: “We need a clear and unified message coming from Muslim leaders and scientists.”