A Birmingham mosque in the United Kingdom has been converted into a Covid vaccination centre as the city begins offering jabs 24 hours a day.
Two people at a time are being vaccinated in the multi-purpose hall at the Al-Abbas Islamic Centre in Balsall Heath.
Imam Nuru Mohammed said they stepped in with the intention of helping “people who are not well-informed about the vaccination”, amid concern that false rumours were targeting religious communities.
He said: “It will send a very strong positive message to the wider Muslim community, not only here in Birmingham but in the entire country, because I think this is the first mosque within the country opening its doors for vaccination to take place.
“I think that is a positive message – that you know what guys, we are all together in this.”
“We want to benefit the community at large and are happy to provide our facilities. It is run by the NHS but with our support,” mosque trustee Haider Hudda said.
“We have been open and transparent with our communities. Our medical taskforce, including local doctors, is always available to answer concerns and give regular updates about the pandemic.
“They have addressed many personal and specific questions and are very careful to get the message across about the safety of the vaccine.”
The NHS also announced the use of a cinema as a vaccination centre in Aylesbury, south-east England.
More than 65 pharmacies will be joining the vaccine distribution programme from this week.
“The NHS vaccination programme, the biggest in the health service’s history, has got off to a strong start with our hard-working staff delivering more than four million vaccinations,” NHS deputy chief pharmaceutical officer Dr Bruce Warner said.
(UK Metro, Birmingham Mail)
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