http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/archive/26-6-19103-0-8-13.html

Muslim babies’ MMR jabs have traces of pork

Injections illegal under Islamic law, says Imam VICKY COLLINS THOUSANDS of Muslim babies in Scotland have been injected with a derivative of pork contained in a major child vaccine, The Herald can reveal. One of the two triple measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines used by GPs in Britain are made using porcine gelatin, which is forbidden in Islam. Public health officials in Glasgow admitted that they had only begun informing parents in the last week. Strict Muslims can only use medicines containing derivatives of pork in a medical emergency when there is no other option. Muslim leaders across Scotland reacted angrily to the revelation and are demanding that Muslim parents must be warned about any medication that may contain pork derivatives to allow them to make an informed choice. Habib Rauf, imam at the Glasgow Central Mosque, said: "I did not know it contained porcine gelatin. I have a three-year-old child who was recently given the MMR vaccine and if I had known about this I would not have let my child have the vaccination." Generally, patients never see the full ingredients list for vaccines, although doctors will check if there are any medical conditions that lead to side- effects. The vaccine with gelatin which is used widely in Britain is made by Aventis Pasteur, while Merck makes another vaccine containing porcine gelatin which is used widely across the world, but not in the UK. Another vaccine used in the UK is made by Priorix and is free of the material. However, usage of either one depends on availability. Between them, Aventis Pasteur and Merck have offices in 41 countries across the world, including Arab nations such as Egypt, the Gulf and Saudi Arabia, as well as Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation. A spokesman for Aventis Pasteur admitted the company was aware of the possible implications of using such ingredients for religious groups. He claimed it was "not a problem" because the gelatin was broken down into peptides, and was therefore refined and not pure gelatin. He confirmed there was no vegetarian option. He declined to comment on when the company first began using porcine gelatin in MMR. Merck was unavailable for comment. However, Muslims said the ingredient still would be a concern because it was sourced from pig, and said an alternative to porcine gelatin, such as agar, should be used, or a warning given to all parents who were considering the jab for their child. Mohammad Faroghul Quadri, imam at the Khazra Mosque, Glasgow, said: "The gelatin may be broken down, but those ingredients still come from pork originally. This gelatin from pork is totally illegal under Islamic law." Mohammed Sarwar, Labour MP for Glasgow Govan, said: "I am sure if it is the case that MMR contains pork gelatin then that would be a concern for the Muslim community." Unlike Muslims, Jews are only forbidden to eat pork, and have no concerns about its use in medicines, according to Judith Tankel, who sits on the committee of the Glasgow Council of Christians and Jews.She said: "There is no problem with us wearing shoes or clothes made using pigs and certainly injections or medicine containing derivatives of pig are no problem."Dr Syed Ahmed, immunisation co-ordinator for Greater Glasgow NHS, said he had been alerted to the problem by a Muslim GP and had contacted all GPs in Glasgow asking them to warn Muslim parents and offer the option of using the alternative MMR vaccine made by Priorix.

Forbidden food

Strict Muslims are only allowed to eat foods not expressly forbidden in the Koran and animals slaughtered "in the name of Allah" are considered halal, or lawful, to eat. The Koran says only animals which chew the cud and have cloven hooves can be eaten, and as pigs do not chew the cud they are considered haram, or forbidden. Although Jews also consider pork to be unclean, kosher law only covers animal products which are eaten.-June 26th
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