Can I be vaccinated whilst fasting?
The question, as received
I will be travelling soon and therefore I need to have a meningitis vaccination injection. I can only do this whilst I am fasting. Is it allowed?
The answer
A fast is broken when a substance with a discernible body reaches the digestive system via the natural openings of the body like the mouth, rectum, nose etc.[1]
Explanation
The above does not take place in meningitis injections. Therefore, it is permissible to be vaccinated by means of injections whilst fasting.2
And Allah knows best.
Mufti Faraz Adam
References
1فلا يحصل الفطر بما وصل إلى داخل الجسم في غير الجوف المعتبر، وهو المعدة والحلق والأمعاء(الجامع في أحكام الصيام والاعتكاف والحج والعمرةص 57طبعة دار الجنان)
2وَالدَّاخِلُ مِنْ الْمَسَامِّ لَا مِنْ الْمَسَالِكِ لَا يُنَافِيهِ (تبيين الحقائق ج 1 ص 323 إمدادية)
(قَوْلُهُ: وَإِنْ وَجَدَ طَعْمَهُ فِي حَلْقِهِ) أَيْ طَعْمَ الْكُحْلِ أَوْ الدُّهْنِ كَمَا فِي السِّرَاجِ وَكَذَا لَوْ بَزَقَ فَوَجَدَ لَوْنَهُ فِي الْأَصَحِّ بَحْرٌ قَالَ فِي النَّهْرِ؛ لِأَنَّ الْمَوْجُودَ فِي حَلْقِهِ أَثَرٌ دَاخِلٌ مِنْ الْمَسَامِّ الَّذِي هُوَ خَلَلُ الْبَدَنِ وَالْمُفْطِرُ إنَّمَا هُوَ الدَّاخِلُ مِنْ الْمَنَافِذِ (رد المحتار ج 2 ص 395 أيج أيم سعيد)
Based on the Hanafi school and on the question as it was asked. Another mufti may reach a different conclusion. Read the disclaimer.