Opening vaccine centers inside mosques and countering misinformation about vaccines, the British Muslim community has been praised by the UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock over its efforts in the COVID vaccination drive.

Hancock remarks came on the world’s first Global Vaccine Confidence Summit, which the UK hosted on Wednesday as part of its presidency of the G7, The National News reported.

Shehla Imtiaz-Umer, a doctor who took part in the closed-door summit, said Hancock had paid tribute to British Muslims’ contribution.

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He acknowledged their role in “working as trusted voices within our communities and particularly in Ramadan to ensure vaccine uptake,” she wrote on Twitter.

The British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA), which was also invited to the summit, said that faith leadership was being “recognized at the highest levels”.

Great to be invited to this @G7 #GVCSummit on #GlobalVaccineConfidence hearing from colleagues across the world

Community based assets, trusted professional voices, & faith leadership throughout the pandemic that we and others provided are being recognised at the highest levels https://t.co/Gj8J9xFCum

— British Islamic Medical Association (@BritishIMA) June 2, 2021

British Muslim Efforts

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) instructed Muslims to seek medical treatments: “Make use of medical treatment, for Allah has not created a disease without appointing a remedy for it.” (Abu Dawud)

Muslim leaders from across the country have been very vocal about the importance of trusting the vaccination program.

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Birmingham’s landmark Green Lane Masjid and Community Center issued a statement last month to clear skepticism surrounding COVID vaccine and urge Muslims to seek medical advice.  

In January 2021, the British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) okayed the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine for COVID-19 for Muslims.

In December, BIMA also approved Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for Muslim communities, confirming that there are no animal products in this vaccine.