COVID-19 and Vaccination
This page contains information and guidance from faith communities about COVID-19 vaccination
Note: For the latest information see: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/ which links to all government information on this issue.
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FAITH ORGANISATIONS' GUIDANCE ON VACCINES
The British Islamic Medical Association has produced position papers on the Pfizer and AstraZeneca Covid-19 Vaccines. https://britishima.org/operation-vaccination/hub/statements/#VAX
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales has updated its statement on vaccinations. https://www.cbcew.org.uk/home/our-work/health-social-care/coronavirus-guidelines/update-on-covid-19-and-vaccination/
The Church of England information on the vaccine is at https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2020-12/COVID%2019%20Vaccines%20update%20v1.0.pdf.
Churches Together in England is providing guidance and resources about the vaccines at https://www.cte.org.uk/Articles/601212/Home/Coronavirus/Coronavirus_vaccinations.aspx.
The Hindu Council UK has noted that the Vaccine Deployment Minister Nadhim Zahawi, has assured that both vaccines do not contain Human or animal products. https://twitter.com/hindu_counciluk/status/1350077694155911168. For more information visit http://www.hinducounciluk.org/2021/01/19/supporting-nationwide-vaccination-programme/
The Hindu Forum of Britain has issued a COVID-19 Vaccine Information Guide. https://twitter.com/hfbritain/status/1354512544321458179
FAITH ORGANISATIONS RESPONDING TO VACCINES
NHS England is leading an NHS anti-disinformation drive about the vaccinations. It has produced a series of videos in different community languages. https://www.england.nhs.uk/london/our-work/covid-19-vaccine-communication-materials/ Religious leaders are among those with whom they are working "to help debunk myths about the vaccine". https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55666407 Public Health England is also working to combat misinformation. https://www.facebook.com/PublicHealthEngland/posts/3756537651050223
Many places of worship are now being used as vaccination centres. These include: Lichfield Cathedral https://www.churchofengland.org/news-and-media/news-and-statements/mass-vaccination-begins-cathedral; Bedford's Guru Nanak Gurdwara https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/bedfords-guru-nanak-gurdwara-temple-now-open-for-covid-19-vaccinations/; Stourbridge National Spiritualist Church https://www.stourbridgenews.co.uk/news/18985019.stourbridge-surgery-lion-health-begins-covid-19-vaccinations/; a Jain Community Centre in Manchester https://twitter.com/BroadheathKC/status/1349484420638666753; Harborne Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Birmingham https://news-uk.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/covid-vaccination-centre-opens-at-harborne-chapel--birmingham; Jamia Mosque in Newport https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2021-03-25/newport-mosque-first-in-wales-to-become-coronavirus-vaccination-centre; Blackburn Cathedral https://www.lep.co.uk/health/coronavirus/blackburn-cathedral-confirmed-lancashires-first-mass-vaccination-hub-3100258?fbclid=IwAR2g7lQTOw4arCeSEWJ7mmqfBdrXxSHaw09FNULaQOjUnGaFMgr0Vs3X36Q; BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Neasden https://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/news/health/priti-patel-at-neasden-temple-covid-vaccination-centre-7305290; Luton's Guru Nanak Gurdwara https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2021-03-21/sikhs-in-luton-launch-vaisakhi-vaccine-clinic?fbclid=IwAR2KlDn45yTn99sxXc_psNAzpLeDnh47VpOLr6FsJPcOznE41SMi4X543Aw; Doncaster’s Belle Vue Mosque and Gurdwara https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/health/coronavirus/over-800-coronavirus-vaccinations-carried-out-at-pop-up-centres-at-doncaster-mosque-and-sikh-temple-3174056?fbclid=IwAR0SfszSvRSkodPY5WJKJhwTt6VzEIc1XyEzlTQhy5W1GpTM0Lp1n93eoY4; and Al Manaar Mosque in London https://almanaar.org.uk/mlwest-london-mosques-pop-up-vaccine-centre-helps-bring-hundreds-of-covid-jabs-to-local-community/
The Archbishop of Canterbury is encouraging everyone to get the vaccine when they are invited to do so. https://twitter.com/JustinWelby/status/1351136454668382220
The President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews has praised vaccination staff and urged the community to support the vaccination programme. https://twitter.com/BoardofDeputies/status/1336246210865270790
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis has said it is a 'religious imperative' to have the vaccination. https://twitter.com/chiefrabbi/status/1346875523834777602.
A number of church leaders have come together with support of YourNeighbour.org to address #COVID19 #vaccine concerns and anxieties and to encourage take-up. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/feb/07/faith-leaders-join-to-counter-fears-over-vaccine-among-bame-communities
Faith leaders in Scotland have signed a statement urging people to have the vaccination. https://www.scotsman.com/health/coronavirus/scotlands-faith-leaders-urge-people-get-covid-vaccination-3101172
The President of the Hindu Forum of Britain is among the faith leaders sharing images of having their vaccinations. https://twitter.com/trujagdish/status/1357706009834360832
OneJain, an initiative of the Institute of Jainology, has held a webinar for people to voice concerns and ask questions about the vaccinations. https://www.onejainuk.org/health
Liberal Judaism has held a webinar for members to ask questions about the vaccination process. https://www.liberaljudaism.org/2021/01/join-our-vaccination-qa-with-dr-jonathan-leach-28-jan/ It has also produced a video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXSsjx02FTo
The Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board has held a webinar about vaccinations to discuss the facts and debunk some of the myths. https://twitter.com/MINAB_UK/status/1348934558713073665
The Chair of the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board has noted that all faiths must unite to stop vaccine disinformation. http://minab.org.uk/all-faiths-must-unite-to-stop-vaccine-disinformation-qari-asim/
The Muslim Council of Britain is supporting the position of the British Islamic Medical Association. https://mcb.org.uk/resources/coronavirus/#vaccine
Strengthening Faiths Institutions has produced a video tackling false news on vaccines. https://www.facebook.com/SFITogether/videos/219943559843121
Churches Together England and The Church of God of Prophecy has held a webinar about vaccinations. https://consent.youtube.com/ml?continue=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3D5ewykAZA8js&gl=GB&hl=en-GB&pc=yt&uxe=23983172&src=1
Wolverhampton Interfaith has held a webinar on the importance of having the vaccine in BAME communities. https://twitter.com/impactpoverty/status/1361992033309761540
Barnet Multi Faith Forum has held a webinar for people to ask questions about the vaccines. http://barnetmultifaithforum.org/event/is-the-vaccine-safe-questions-answered/
Salvation Army staff and volunteers have been visiting vaccination centres to feed volunteers and key workers. https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/news/salvation-army-feeds-thousands-nhs-workers
Faith leaders are also responding at a local level.
One example is a local response from the leader of the Jamia Masjid Ghausia in Burnley. https://twitter.com/afrasiab_anwar/status/1349761917729067010
Barnet Multi Faith Forum and Faiths Forum for London have collaborated on pop-up inter faith vaccination drives. A recent vaccination drive took place at Golders Green’s Islamic Centre. https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/hundreds-get-coronavirus-jabs-at-interfaith-vaccination-drives/
The chief Imam at Al Mustafa Mosque in Middlesbrough tackles vaccine misinformation. https://www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/news/mosques-fight-against-vaccine-fake-news?fbclid=IwAR1Uvcf9yaVz3aN4VmXR7IN9v5GD6FVl3ttbEYSUkmnvvazivi99i670sOk
A vaccination session was held for the Charedim Jewish community in Hackney. https://www.thejc.com/community/community-news/vaccine-minister-s-huge-thanks-to-organisers-of-covid-jabs-session-for-hackney-charedim-1.511822?fbclid=IwAR0GrJEY0X2s1guyjobIU9MaN50UX9NSqilUOgJ0mu7ha0S4_Mka35TsD4o
Bradford Hindu Council is letting people know the vaccine is safe and effective. https://twitter.com/bh_council/status/1358352903929548805
Two GPs - one Jewish and one Muslim - have come together to launch London’s first mobile vaccination unit. https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/muslim-and-jewish-gp-to-launch-londons-first-mobile-vaccination-unit/
Note: IFN's pages on COVID-19 are being updated regularly. Listings may not be exhaustive or include all possible examples, and IFN makes no guarantee as to the accuracy of the information linked to.
