Covid vaccines true or false? What the doctors say

Dr Hina Shahid is a GP and Chair of the Muslim Doctor's Association. Dr Nighat Arif is a GP and NHS GPwSI in Women’s health in Buckinghamshire and Dr Abdul Hafeez, is a GP and Founder & CEO of Association of Pakistani Physicians and Surgeon of the UK (APPS UK).

The COVID vaccine ingredients are Haram
Dr Hina Shahid says: “The three COVID-19 vaccines currently approved in the UK contain no pork products and many Muslim leaders and organisations are encouraging their communities to take the vaccine. The British Islamic Medical Association. Muslim Doctors Association, Muslim Council of Britain and the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board are some of the many Muslim organisations that are encouraging people to get the vaccines. 

“The Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine contains some ethanol, but the amount is considered to be so small that many Muslim scholars have said it is permissible. Mosques around the country are also being used as vaccination centres as part of Muslim leaders support of the vaccine rollout. If you want to find out more about the vaccine and its compatibility with your faith, you can discuss the matter with a faith leader who is trusted and informed.”

The vaccines contain aborted foetal cells
Dr Nighat Arif says: “There are no aborted foetal cells or tissues in any of the COVID-19 vaccines. In fact, there are no living organisms or human cells in any of the jabs.

“The production and testing of each vaccine has been monitored to ensure they meet ethical standards. Muslim associations and Imams are all among those who have endorsed the UK’s vaccine rollout.”

Vaccines are unsafe - that is why no pregnant women were in trials
Dr Nighat Arif says: “It’s best practice for pregnant women to be excluded from clinical trials for new medicines and vaccines. This is a precautionary measure and not because there are proven risks. Because the COVID-19 vaccines have not yet been tested on pregnant women, it is not yet being routinely offered to them. 

“But there is currently no data to suggest that the vaccine poses a danger to you if you are pregnant or your unborn child. Pregnant women with underlying health conditions or those who are frontline workers may decide to get the jab because of the risks they face. If this applies to you, you can discuss the matter with your GP.”

Dr Abdul Hafeez, is a GP and Founder & CEO of Association of Pakistani Physicians and Surgeon of the UK (APPS UK).

The vaccine was approved too quickly to be safe
Dr Abdul Hafeez says: “As a GP, I’ve witnessed the devastating impact that COVID-19 has had on my community. So, I was delighted to hear the news that COVID-19 vaccines had been developed so quickly as it means we can save more lives. However, I know that some people are concerned about the safety of the vaccine because of the speed in which it has been made available. It’s important to know that these COVID-19 vaccines have been subjected to the same strict safety tests as other vaccines. They have not skipped any stages of monitoring. 

“The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the independent regulatory body which approves all the medicines we use in the UK, has assessed the safety of each vaccine and continues to monitor them. Millions of people have received a COVID-19 vaccine now and no significant serious problems have been reported so far.”

Pharmaceutical companies are evil so we can’t trust them
Dr Abdul Hafeez says: “Many of us have heard of incidents in which pharmaceutical companies have prioritised their profits over the health and safety of patients. One of the consequences of such actions is that some people have lost trust in pharmaceutical brands. However, you can be confident that the production of the COVID-19 has been overseen by independent bodies.

“Thankfully, today there are various independent medicine monitoring organisations, such as the MHRA, and procedures that help to ensure vaccines are created ethically and are safe to use. We can be assured that the vaccines can be trusted because independent regulators only authorise their use once they have met robust standards of safety, effectiveness and quality.”

Dr Nighat Arif is a GP and NHS GPwSI in Women’s health in Buckinghamshire

The vaccine may modify your DNA
Dr Abdul Hafeez says: “The claim that the COVID-19 vaccines may modify your DNA is false. The vaccines do not interfere with your DNA. It seems this myth has spread widely because of the use of mRNA vaccines. Both the Pfizer/BioNtech and the Moderna vaccines are mRNA vaccines. This has nothing to do with DNA and doesn’t modify your genes but rather triggers a reaction in your immune system that causes your body to produce proteins which can later fight the virus.”

Vaccines contain alcohol and therefore are impermissible
Dr Hina Shahid says “The Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine contains a very small percentage of ethanol; the amount is so small that many Muslim scholars have said it is permissible. Many Muslim leaders are supportive of the COVID-19 vaccines and are working hard to ensure their communities get the jab so they can be protected. Again, you can discuss this further with a trusted and informed faith leader.”

Vaccines contain pork or other animal derivatives
Dr Hina Shahid says: “The three COVID-19 vaccines currently approved in the UK contain no pork products or any other materials derived from animals. Faith leaders and organisations, including Muslim and Hindu ones, are encouraging their communities to take the vaccine. Mosques and temples around the country are also being used as vaccination centres as part of religious leaders’ public support of the vaccine rollout.”

COVID vaccines can make you infertile (unable to have children)
Dr Nighat Arif says: “There have been some harmful myths circulating that claim the COVID-19 vaccines can make you infertile. As a mother myself I understand how these claims can cause concern but there is no evidence to show that taking any of the COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility or affect it in women or men. One theory suggested the spike protein, an element of the vaccine which helps your body fight the virus, could lead to fertility problems.

"This theory is not supported by evidence. Most people who contract COVID-19 will develop antibody to the spike and there is no evidence of fertility problems in people who have had COVID-19.”