Sentara partners with Islamic faith leaders to host vaccine clinic after sunset during first week of Ramadan

On the evening of Friday, April 16, Sentara and the Peninsula Islamic Community Center (PICC) in Hampton, Va. partnered to provide a special COVID-19 vaccine clinic after sundown for those observing the religious traditions of the holy month of Ramadan. 

For those in the Islamic faith community, Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection that includes a daily fast from sunrise to sunset. On March 26, 2021, Sentara Healthcare provided COVID-19 vaccines to many Muslim community members at a clinic in Hampton, Va. These individuals were due to return for their second doses on April 16, which overlapped with the first week of Ramadan. 

Individuals who receive a Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine need both shots for maximum efficacy. Although many Islamic religious leaders have advised their communities that receiving the COVID-19 vaccine does not break the daily fast, some community members were not comfortable receiving their second vaccine during the daytime fasting period. 

To ensure these individuals received their second doses, Sentara collaborated with PICC to offer a small, alternative evening clinic at PICC’s facility in Hampton. The clinic took place in the evening as a part of PICC’s iftar and prayers that evening. An iftar is the meal those observing Ramadan eat after sundown to break their daily fast. 

Sentara’s Chief Physician Executive, Dr. Jordan Asher, told local media, “Everyone came together as a community for the needs of the community,” noting that meant both medical and spiritual needs.

Dr. Naved Jafri is the president of Obstetrics and Gynecology Associates of Hampton and works out of Sentara CarePlex Hospital. He is also the president of PICC. Dr. Jafri said that without Sentara’s collaboration to host an alternative evening clinic, at least 70 people who attended would have missed their second vaccination due to concerns about breaking fast. 

In total, Sentara administered 80 vaccine doses at the event, including some first doses made available due to leftover doses after providing second doses.

Those who did not attend the event had the opportunity to receive their second dose at a daytime second-dose clinic at the Hampton Roads Convention Center in Hampton.

Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA 3) attended the clinic, along with other Sentara, city and community leaders, and praised the attention to cultural sensitivity. 

“We’re concerned about the equity and availability of vaccine and it’s events like this that really help cure that problem,” Rep. Scott said.