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The Communication Initiative
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at lainiciativadecomunicacion.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Ramadan Fasting and COVID-19 Vaccination in Ghana

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Authors: Al-Hassan Hudi, Iddi Iddrisu, and Anastasiia Nurzhynska, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Ghana, April 1 2022 - This year, Ramadan, the month of fasting, spans from April to May 2022. Many unvaccinated people from the Muslim community may be more hesitant to receive the COVID-19 vaccine because they do not want to compromise their fast. It is important for these groups to know that having vaccines intramuscularly during fasting time (dawn to dusk) does not nullify one's fast and that vaccination should not be delayed.

Most Islamic scholars have said that vaccine injections are permitted during fasting hours of Ramadan and should not be avoided merely because a person is observing his or her fasting.

There have not been many precedents of urgent vaccine drives that coincided with Ramadan in the past, but, given some adverse events following immunisation (AEFI)-type complaints, vaccine hesitancy might be high among the Muslim population, despite scholars' reassurances.

In Ghana, healthcare workers, civil society organisations (CSOs), influencers and social mobilisers need to work closely with Muslim faith leaders to disseminate key messages reaching out to the Muslim community during Ramadan. Those who are fasting may also be concerned that the potential side effects of vaccination - for example, myalgia, headache, and tiredness - may make it difficult to maintain their fast. So, we offer this message guide for Muslims during Ramadan:

  1. Get vaccinated against COVID-19, and be healthy for Ramadan fasting.
  2. Make wudu (ablution) at home if possible.
  3. Maintain six feet of social distance at all times while in your congregation.
  4. Consider wearing a face mask while you're at the mosque.
  5. Regularly sanitise or wash your hands with soap under running water - e.g., using ablution can/butter.
  6. If possible, observe congregational prayers in an open, well-ventilated space.
  7. Rest assured that vaccination does not nullify your fasting.
  8. Get vaccinated to protect others from COVID-19 while you observe your fasting.
  9. Encourage other unvaccinated Muslims to get vaccinated.

Get vaccinated at the right time, in the right place. Some recommended actions for social and behaviour change (SBC) personnel and faith leaders):

  • Make the vaccine available overnight near mosques to drive up vaccinations during Ramadan, and potentially after (especially during taraweeh prayers).
  • Use "tafseer" sessions (evening Quranic interpretation sessions) to give vaccine confidence messaging.
  • Make vaccination posters and flyers visible around mosques.
  • Use Friday Khutbah sessions to encourage Muslims to be vaccinated.

Image credit: Sheikh Ali Napari/The Light Foundation

As with all of the blogs posted on our website, the content above does not imply the endorsement of The CI or its Partners and is from the perspective of the writer alone. We do not check facts and strive to retain the writer's voice, as is detailed in our Editorial Policy.