COVID-19 Sinovac Vaccine is Halal, Safe: MUI
Source: Covid19.go.id
The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Fatwa Commission has announced that the COVID-19 Sinovac vaccine is halal (permissible under Islamic law) and safe.
“Regarding the halal aspect, after a long discussion of the auditor’s explanation, the Fatwa Commission has agreed that the COVID-19 vaccine produced by Sinovac Lifescience whose certification was submitted by state-owned pharmaceutical company Bio Farma is safe and halal,” said Chairperson of MUI Fatwa Division KH. Asrorun Niam Sholeh after a closed plenary meeting in Jakarta, Friday (08/01).
According to him, although it is halal and safe, the MUI fatwa is not final as its use is still waiting for the decision of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) regarding its safety, quality, and efficacy.
Asrorun went on to say that the meeting attended by leadership and members of the Central MUI Fatwa Commission only discussed and determined the sharia suitability of the COVID-19 Sinovac vaccine covering Coronavac, COVID-19 Vaccine, and Vac2 Bio.
The decision came following an in-depth study of the audit report from the MUI team comprising the Central MUI Fatwa Commission and the Council’s Assessment Institute for Foods, Drugs, and Cosmetics (MUI LPPOM) who has previously experienced in the MR Vaccine audit process.
Together with team from Ministry of Health, Bio Farma, and BPOM, they visited the Sinovac factory and audited the halal vaccine there. After returning to Indonesia, the team was still waiting for some required documents.
The MUI team received the complete document on Tuesday (05/01) via electronic mail. On the same day, the team also completed a field audit at Bio Farma which will later mass-produce the vaccine.
The team then reported the results of the audit to the Central MUI Fatwa Commission for a religious study to determine the halal aspect of the vaccine. Once the BPOM has issued a safety permit, the Sinovac vaccine can be used. (Ministry of Religious Affairs PR/MUI PR/ MUI/UN) (MUR/EP)
