BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/
Accessed 5 October 2013
4 October 2013 Last updated at 02:27 ET

A programme to vaccinate schoolchildren against flu has been delayed in Glasgow after concerns from Muslim parents that it contains products derived from pork.

About 100,000 primary school pupils in Scottish health board areas taking part in a pilot programme are being offered the Fluenz vaccine.

It is given as a nasal spray rather than the traditional jab.

But parents in Pollokshields, which has a high number of Muslim pupils, have complained the spray contains gelatine.

A letter sent to Glasgow schools in the wake of concerns cites a World Health Organisation study in 2001 which indicated that Islamic and Jewish scholars had agreed pork gelatine was    permissible within a vaccine.

However, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC), whose area contains most of Scotland’s Muslims, said it had put back the rollout of the vaccinations “following concerns raised by a small number of parents”.

The programme is due to resume next week when parents will be offered a choice of the nasal spray or the more traditional jab…
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-24394844