Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangements are they putting in place for COVID-19 vaccinations for Muslims during Ramadan

The Government and NHS England and NHS Improvement have been working closely with local vaccination providers and system partners to put arrangements in place to help support Muslims to receive their vaccination, particularly if they are invited during Ramadan.

We have ensured through key messaging from scholarly leaders and the British Islamic Medical Association that it is permissible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine while fasting during Ramadan. We have provided advice and reassurances on questions and concerns around vaccination and Ramadan and we are working closely with local authorities, charities, faith and community groups to ensure these messages are disseminated widely. Effort has been made to promote key messages in faith-based radio stations, TV channels and multi-lingual messages developed by clinical and faith leaders.

We have issued guidance to our local partners on actions they should consider with reference to the needs of their local Muslim population during Ramadan which includes:

- Extending vaccination sites opening hours during twilight hours in places with high Muslim populations;

- Supporting pop-up/roving/temporary vaccination sites in areas with a high Muslim population;

- Allowing greater flexibility in booking schedules for later appointments;

- Outreach into homes to support those who are housebound and for women; and

- Flexibility to vaccinate where needed across Muslim groups, such as vaccinating members of multi-generational households on single visits.

We have been working closely with our system partners to support these actions and many are already being implemented. Additionally, we have also been supporting the organisation of women’s only vaccine clinics.