Islamic clerics have been visiting Muslim households to educate them about the vaccines, and to bust myths and misinformation about them
Some clerics and members of the Bhamla Foundation speak to residents of Nargis Dutt Nagar slum at Bandra on Sunday. Pics/Shadab Khan
Islamic clerics have joined the NGO Bhamla Foundation in its campaign in Muslim localities, to bust the myths about vaccination. The drive was started by the Bhamla Foundation after they found a lot of misinformation among people about the vaccines for Covid-19. Clerics from mosques and volunteers have been visiting Muslim households in Bandra and Dharavi to educate them about the vaccines, and asking them to not believe the false information shared on social media.
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The clerics said people are really scared as there is lack of awareness and lot of misinformation has been spread even by some media houses
The campaign was started by Asif Bhamla, the founder of the Foundation. “We have been distributing rations kits in the Bandra and Dharavi slums. While doing this, our volunteers got to know about the misinformation shared on social media about the vaccines, due which a lot of people are not getting vaccinated. Now with the help of local mosques’ clerics we are educating people about it and this is really helping,” said Bhamla.
Worry about quality of vaccine
According to the volunteers of Bhamla Foundation, people have got information from social media and various news reports that recipients of the vaccine fall sick and even suffer from mental illness after taking it. “Apart from this they are also concerned about the quality of vaccines. Someone has spread that only politicians and rich people get the good quality vaccines and the vaccines given to them are of very poor quality and that’s why cause many illnesses,” Bhamla added.
He also said that initially there were some rumours among the Muslim community that the vaccine is not halal as it has gelatin made from pork. “That was earlier, but now it has international certification and top Muslim organisations have also spoken about it. Hence, we have been taking help of clerics as people will listen to them,” Bhamla added.
The local clerics said that the people are really scared as there is lack of awareness and lots of misinformation has been spread even by some media houses.”We have been explaining to them that there is nothing wrong with the vaccine as it is scientifically proven. If we don’t get vaccinated, we will end up getting infected and spread the virus to others which is a sin as per Islam, so we must get vaccinated as and when we get the chance,” said a cleric from Bandra, Qari Matloob Ahmed Ansari.
“Just as fasting is obligatory for us right now, vaccination is obligatory for every Muslim to stop the spread of Covid-19. We too have been running a campaign across social media before the drive started. People have been calling us to ask if pork gelatin is used in the vaccines. I have clearly told everyone there is no such use of pork gelatin in any of the vaccines as per my knowledge, but even if it is used we can take it to save lives,” said Mufti Manzoor Ziyaee.
‘Allow vaccination in mosques, dargahs’
During the month of Ramzan, some Muslims have stopped taking the shots as they think taking the vaccine will break their fast. “Now there are only a few rozas in the holy month of Ramzan so we will start the campaign on a larger scale. We have also written to the state government to start giving vaccines in mosques and dargahs, this will boost the confidence of people,” said Bhamla.
“It is very difficult to explain to people who are uneducated, specially senior citizens about the vaccines, but those who are young and educated understand. Many have enrolled for the vaccines,” said Meraj Husain, CEO, Bhamla Foundation.
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