To get vaccinated during the Ramadhan fasting month is surely safe, similar to when it is done in other months.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - People scheduled to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in mid-April or end of this month — while entering the Ramadhan month — are suggested to not harbor concerns about its likely side-effects during fasting, an expert stated.

Pulmonary and respiratory medicine professor at the Universitas Indonesia’s Medical Faculty Yoga Aditama made assurance of it being safe for people to get vaccinated during the fasting month of Ramadhan.

“To get vaccinated during the Ramadhan fasting month is surely safe, similar to when it is done in other months,” Aditama stated here on Thursday.

The people are urged to promptly report any side-effects to the health officers. However, stiffness, rashes, and local swelling at the site of the jab are commonly reported, he pointed out.

Not all people who get vaccinated experience them, one of them being Shara, a reporter, who recently received the first dose of the vaccine in March.

Shara’s colleague, Iit, who has taken two doses of the vaccine, only experienced stiffness in some parts where the vaccine was inoculated even though she had lack of sleep.

Hence, are the immune responses different for vaccine receivers who fast and those who do not?

Laboratorium Head at the Fakeeh University Hospital, Dubai, Dr Paalat Menon confirmed that effectiveness of the immune response on fasting people is doubled.

“I suggest people to get vaccinated when they are fasting. First, they cannot miss the opportunity to be vaccinated due to the fear of its side-effects. Secondly, the immune response is doubly effective on fasting people,” Menon said while citing Gulf News.

Menon expounded that when someone fasts for 12 hours, either on religious or medical grounds, then the macrophages in the immune system work faster in clearing out all debris, sick or dead cells, and also poison.

“This process is called autophagy, and during this period, the immune system becomes more sensitive yet effective. Intermittent fasting is also deemed as being effective for treating diabetes, tuberculosis, and other metabolic disorders. Thus, vaccination during fasting is fine,” he stated.

A doctor specializing in clinical pathology at the Medeor Hospital Laboratory, Dr. Gunjan Mahajan, advised people to choose the time before breaking their fast if they are concerned about the side-effects.

“If possible, people, who are afraid of experiencing side-effects, can take the decision to get vaccinated few hours before the time they break their fast, and then they can continue to rest and recharge their energy when the fast ends,” Mahajan noted.

Meanwhile, you can choose to be vaccinated in the morning after sahoor — early eating activity before fasting — since medically, there is no contraindication during fasting. Related news: COVID-19 vaccination can be conducted safely while fasting: VP Amin
Related news: Ramadhan: Doctor recommends health check-up before fasting

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Editor: Suharto
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