Mosque jabs pop-up centre is a big success
THE CENTRAL Jamia Mosque Madni on Gibbet Street in Halifax was transformed into a oneday Covid-19 vaccination centre on Sunday as more than 100 people were given the jab.
Vaccinations were available without the need for an appointment, as long as those attending were over the age of 70, a frontline health and social care worker, or had received a letter from the NHS to show they were classed as clinically vulnerable.
Staff from local GP practices carried out the vaccinations, and it’s hoped further pop-up clinics can be arranged across Calderdale in the future.
Nadeem Akhtar, GP and Clinical Director of Central Halifax Primary Care Network (PCN) said: “It’s been absolutely fantastic and a real success. We’ve come here and won hearts and minds. There was significant confusion and concerns around the vaccination but we’ve had the opportunity to come to the heart of the community and have those discussions, and people have actually changed their minds and have taken up the opportunity to be vaccinated against the virus.
“People who’ve previously declined the vaccination have actually come along today and had it, because they’ve had an opportunity to ask the questions they needed to somewhere they were comfortable.
“This has highlighted the benefit of pop-up clinics and using religious and community buildings to deliver the COVID-19 vaccination. I’d like to congratulate everyone involved, and in particular I’d like to thank the committee at Madni Mosque, and my team at Halifax Central Primary Care Network for helping us deliver vaccinations to the community.”
The Chairman of Madni
We want to do our part in supporting the efforts in combatting the pandemic
Mosque Haji Mohammed Sultan said: “I am pleased to be working with partners to offer the Mosque as a pop-up clinic to support the vaccination programme. In Islam, preservation of life is of the utmost importance. We want to do our part in supporting the efforts of agencies in combatting the pandemic and all want to return to our normal way of life. I would like to reassure anyone that is hesitant to receiving the vaccination that it is safe, and it is being provided to save lives”.
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