1. Do fasts missed due to postnatal bleeding or breast-feeding have to be caught up with, or some form of charity be paid Instead?
As long as the mother is healthy and there are no added complications in her life, she must repay the fasts later on. A mother has the reprieve of one year, while she is pregnant and the second year while she is feeding. After that, it is right for her to repeat the missed fasts - although there is no necessity for her to repay the fasts in a consecutive manner. She can, if she wants, fast at the weekend when she is free - she can choose the days which are easy for her.
There is a very very weak point of view which says she may, if it becomes too much for her to repay the fasts, be allowed to give monetary expiation (Kifarat) for that. But, as stated, this point of view is very weak indeed and the acceptable thing is for a mother to repay the fast when she is able to do so.
(94 - Siyam 1)
2. Is it permissible to undergo Vaccination while in a state of fasting?
Yes, it is allowed. The vaccination is not classified as eating or drinking since it does not go through the natural aperture to the body. As such Muslim Fuqaha say this does not spoil the fast exactly - like an injection, whether it is in the muscles or in the vein, whether it is for the purposes of treatment or for the strengthening the ability to fast. All these are considered not against the state of fasting (abstinence) and do not nullify a fast.
(105 - Siyam 4)
