Fears over Muslim parents withdrawing children from ‘non-halal’ flu vaccine

MUSLIM parents are refusing to allow their children to take part in a nationwide flu vaccine drive after the Muslim Council of Britain ruled the treatment was forbidden by Islam.

Public health officials have raised concern over the number of Muslim children expected to be withdrawn from a major programme beginning in schools next month. For the first time, every healthy child between the ages of two and 10 in England will be offered a nasal spray vaccine to protect people of all ages from the virus. But Muslim parents across the country have been told that the Fluenz spray is not permitted because it contains gelatin derived from pigs – considered unclean.

In some areas, the “vast majority” of Muslim parents have vowed to withdraw their children from the programme, community leaders revealed. Last night, the Royal College of Public Health said the situation “added to the risk of major flu outbreaks” and urged the Government to offer a halal alternative vaccine acceptable to Muslims.

Since 2013, the nasal spray vaccine has been gradually introduced to healthy children, beginning with those in nursery. An injectable alternative without gelatin does exist, but is only offered to children at higher risk.

The programme has led to a significant reduction in flu cases. However, Public Health England documents seen by The Daily Telegraph reveal concern that uptake in Muslim areas has been “significantly lower” than the average, with the most common reason for refusal given by parents being “vaccine contains porcine gelatin”.

NHS England has urged Muslim parents to consider making an exception because the vaccine can be “considered different from ingesting food”. But Dr Shuja Shafi, the chairman of the Muslim Council of Britain’s research committee, said: “We have consulted the scholars and this is their view… we need another vaccine which is halal.”

Azhar Ali, leader of the Labour group on Lancashire county council, said the “vast majority” of Muslim parents in his area planned to withdraw children.

Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at PHE, said: “Our first priority is to ensure that vaccines are safe and effective… PHE encourages parents to seek advice from their faith or community leaders to inform their decision.”