Public health chiefs have held talks with Muslim leaders after families raised concerns about allowing their children to have the flu vaccine because it contains pork products.
All healthy children between two and ten in England will be offered the Fluenz nasal spray vaccine in schools from September. It was initially provided only for nursery-age children.
Public Health England (PHE) said that uptake had been “slightly lower” in areas with a high proportion of Muslim families, partly because of concerns that it contains porcine gelatine.
The Muslim Council of Britain initiated talks between PHE and Muslim groups in 2014 after some parents said that they did not want their child to receive vaccines containing pork, which is considered unclean in Islam.
Yesterday the council said most Muslim scholars agreed that vaccines with porcine gelatine were not allowed in Islam unless lives were at risk and there was no alternative. “Our view is not that Muslims should automatically refuse such treatment,” a spokesman said. “Health is paramount. Anyone concerned about the use of gelatine in vaccines must consult a medical practitioner and make an informed decision.” [The Times (£)] Read more
