Religion and immunization

Dear Theresa,

Thank you for raising this excellent question and very important concern.

Here are some suggestions that you can explore and further contextualize to your local situation:

1. On navigating challenging conversations: Practice empathy and build trust during the dialogue. Certain cases may also need repreated interactions before the parent/caregiver decides to vaccinate. A few suggestions:

• • Acknowledge parents’/caregivers’ concerns (without necessarily agreeing) and their feelings. 
  • Ask open-ended questions to better understand concerns. Parents and caregivers may mention religious reasons, but there may be other/underlying concerns that also need to be addressed (e.g., safety of vaccines).
  • Share trusted information to address the concerns (see some messages in #2 below), along with practical ways to access vaccination once they have decided.
  • Engage a trusted community member (e.g., a local religious leader) to support the conversations (see #3 below), as needed.

2. On messages you can share: Aside from routine messages emphasizing the benefits of vaccines and the risks of not being vaccinated, below are some messages for addressing possible concerns from the Muslim community:

• • Leading religious organizations support routine childhood vaccines as life-saving interventions.

• • For example, the Islamic Advisory Group recognizes all routine childhood vaccinations as a lifesaving tool that aligns with Islamic shariah.

• • A majority of Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Egypt and others have very high immunization coverage while using the same vaccines with similar components.

3. On engaging local religious leaders: Regular dialogues with local religious leaders are important in exploring and addressing their concerns and encouraging their role in promoting immunization.They can be supported with vaccination messages that they can share in community gatherings. They can also be engaged as part of vaccination teams to help deal with conversations with those who are hesitant due to religious reasons.

Hoping these suggestions help!

Best regards,

Jun, from the WHO Demand and Behavioural Sciences Team

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*The IAG is an Islamic consortium that was established in 2013 between Al Azhar Al Sharif, the IIFA, the OIC and the IsDB and includes other religious scholars and technical experts. The objective of the IAG is to raise awareness about priority health issues among local communities by aligning technical and religious perspectives and leveraging religious scholars, mosque imams and community influencers.

Some useful links:

• http://www.iag-group.org/home/
• WHO EMRO | Islamic Advisory Group reiterates commitment to polio eradication and public health priorities | News | Media centre

I greatly appreciate Jun Ryan Orbina's insightful response. I believe it's essential to extend our efforts beyond communities like yours and engage with those who prioritize private clinics for their children's vaccinations while hesitating to participate in vaccination campaigns.

To achieve this, I would emphasize the importance of involving community leaders, including religious figures, wise community members, and representatives, in the campaign's preparation. Their support can play a pivotal role in garnering trust and participation.

Additionally, it's crucial to recruit nurses or doctors from within this community whom they can trust and integrate into our team. This step would help bridge the gap between healthcare providers and the community, fostering a sense of familiarity and trust.

In our interactions with the community, we must uphold honesty and openness, welcoming any questions or concerns they may have. Sharing data that substantiates our goals and intentions can further build credibility and alleviate doubts.

Moreover, adopting a humble and empathetic approach is paramount. We should make a genuine effort to understand and empathize with the concerns and feelings of community members who may be hesitant to embrace the vaccination campaign. This approach can create a more conducive environment for productive conversations and, ultimately, increased participation in the campaign.