Muslims in the UK could be offered coronavirus vaccines after evening prayers during Ramadan.
Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi on Wednesday praised mosques for signing up for pop-up vaccination clinics to coincide with iftar – the evening meal after the daily Ramadan fast ends at sunset.
More than 22.8 million people have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine in the UK, according to government statistics.
But ministers said the continued success of the programme relies on strong take-up of the vaccine, particularly among minority ethnic groups who, studies show, are more likely to be hesitant.
Some mosques have already been converted to vaccine centres to encourage take-up among Muslims.
But Mr Zahawi told MPs some mosques were planning to go further by offering the vaccine to Muslims immediately after iftar during Ramadan, which begins on April 12.
“It goes back to convenience, access and support. It’s a place that the community trusts,” he told the Woman and Equalities Committee.
“And thinking it through, if people are coming for iftar to the mosque, what a great way to book them in afterwards to have their jab.”
He said 94 per cent of Britain’s adult population said they were likely or very likely to take the vaccine.
“It’s the highest in the world if I’m not mistaken in terms of vaccine positivity,” he said.
However, he said the take-up rate was lower among the black and Afro-Caribbean and Bangladeshi communities.
He said that anti-vaccination misinformation was “false but proving quite potent” among women.
“Some of the focus groups and polling numbers suggest much of the hesitancy is around issues of fertility,” he said.
Medical and religion experts said the Covid-19 vaccine is permissible in Islam and does not invalidate fasting.
Dr Salman Waqar, a board member at the British Islamic Medical Association, said Islamic opinion on the matter was fairly unambiguous.
"Muslim scholars around the world, not only in Europe and the UK, said that the Covid vaccines are religiously permissible and that taking a vaccine during Ramadan will not invalidate your fast.”
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Fernandes pen 2') Tottenham Hotspur 6 (Ndombele 4', Son 7' & 37' Kane (30' & pen 79, Aurier 51')
Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
The specs
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Essentials
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Windhoek, with a combination of Emirates and Air Namibia, cost from US$790 (Dh2,902) via Johannesburg.
The trip
A 10-day self-drive in Namibia staying at a combination of the safari camps mentioned – Okonjima AfriCat, Little Kulala, Desert Rhino/Damaraland, Ongava – costs from $7,000 (Dh25,711) per person, including car hire (Toyota 4x4 or similar), but excluding international flights, with The Luxury Safari Company.
When to go
The cooler winter months, from June to September, are best, especially for game viewing.
Mane points for safe home colouring
- Natural and grey hair takes colour differently than chemically treated hair
- Taking hair from a dark to a light colour should involve a slow transition through warmer stages of colour
- When choosing a colour (especially a lighter tone), allow for a natural lift of warmth
- Most modern hair colours are technique-based, in that they require a confident hand and taught skills
- If you decide to be brave and go for it, seek professional advice and use a semi-permanent colour
UAE Falcons
Carly Lewis (captain), Emily Fensome, Kelly Loy, Isabel Affley, Jessica Cronin, Jemma Eley, Jenna Guy, Kate Lewis, Megan Polley, Charlie Preston, Becki Quigley and Sophie Siffre. Deb Jones and Lucia Sdao – coach and assistant coach.
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
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Uefa Nations League
League A:
Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, France, England, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Iceland, Croatia, Netherlands
League B:
Austria, Wales, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, Republic of Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Turkey
League C:
Hungary, Romania, Scotland, Slovenia, Greece, Serbia, Albania, Norway, Montenegro, Israel, Bulgaria, Finland, Cyprus, Estonia, Lithuania
League D:
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Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 575bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh554,000
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
The biog
Full name: Aisha Abdulqader Saeed
Age: 34
Emirate: Dubai
Favourite quote: "No one has ever become poor by giving"
