Shura Council of Southern California Health Task Force and UMMA Community Clinic Spell out Recommendations on Vaccines
Based on previous and recent guidance from various Islamic and health-based organizations, the following recommendations are put forth:
1. It is highly recommended and strongly advised that all eligible adults receive the vaccine to protect themselves, their loved ones and the larger community. Vaccines save lives and their benefits far outweigh their risks. With the vaccine administration timeline and process less than optimal, medical facilities are encountering unanticipated challenges in offering appointments and information. Although not fully adequate, attempts are being made to coordinate community vaccination efforts across the region. In Southern California, all county vaccination programs are linked below and should be used for finding out further information on where/when to receive the vaccines free of charge, COVID 19 testing and other assistive resources. Please remember to check for updates since changes are frequent.
Imperial County - Kern County - LA County - Orange County - Riverside County - Santa Barbara County - San Bernardino County - San Diego County - San Luis Obispo County - Ventura County
2. The three W’s: washing hands often, wearing masks correctly and watching your distance (socially spread apart, avoid large gatherings, etc.) should be done for all personal and collective activities. These aspects are outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which provides up-to-date resources on the science and safety of vaccinations.
3. The technical aspects of vaccine validity and legal Islamic rulings should be left for discussion among content experts and those who are trained in the field. Some references to review from both health and faith perspectives are below, including a recording of the Shura’s Health Task Force presentation and Q&A, which includes two UMMA clinic board members:
Fiqh Council of North America
Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America
Islamic Medical Association of North America
American Muslim Health Professionals
Shura Health Task Force, video recording (from 58:20 onward for health advice)
Since there is a lot of misinformation about the vaccine on social media and the web, the resources above are general guidance for coming to a conscientious conclusion. We strongly urge each individual to confirm how the vaccine is a viable choice for them after careful consultation with medical and religious professionals. We pray that Allah the All Capable facilitates ease, cure and relief from this pandemic and grants us all His grace.
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