Gov’t Involves MUI to Ensure Halal COVID-19 Vaccine

Vice President Ma’ruf Amin holds a video conference with Spokesperson of COVID-19 National Working Committee dr. Reisa, on Friday (16/10). (Photo: KP – Vice Presidential Secretariat)

The Government is preparing the vaccination of COVID-19 including the procurement of locally-developed COVID-19 vaccine “Merah Putih” and other COVID-19 vaccine developed under cooperation with other countries.

Vice President Ma’ruf Amin said that the Government has been involving the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) in facing the pandemic. The council’s fatwas are used as a guidance for Muslims in the country, for example the fatwas on Friday prayer, Idul Fitri prayer, Idul Adha prayer, alms that can be used to finance the COVID-19 handling, daily prayers guidance for medical workers in hazmat suits, and guidance to burial procedures in COVID-19 protocols.

“As for vaccine, I want the MUI to be involved starting from the planning to procuring the vaccine, determining that the vaccine is halal, conducting audit to the factory, and visiting vaccine facilities in China. In addition, the council can continue to disseminate information on vaccination to the public” he added.

He went on to say that vaccine to be given to the public must obtain halal certificate from the authorized institution, in this case is MUI. “However, if the vaccines are not halal but there is no other solution than giving the vaccine, then in emergency situation, it can be given with the approval of the MUI,” he added.

Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinopharm, Sinovac, and CanSino has affirmed their commitment to supply vaccine to Indonesia. As reported by maritime.go.id, a team consist of the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM), Ministry of Health, the MUI, and State-owned pharmaceutical holding company Bio Farma on Wednesday (14/10), went to China to inspect the facility and ensure that vaccines produced by Sinovac and CanSino are halal. Meanwhile, data of Sinopharm’s vaccine which is produced in the United Arab Emirates will be obtained from clinical trials report.

Bio Farma President Director Honesti Basyir said that the MUI is involved in the data examination process to ensure that vaccines produced by Sinovac, CanSino, and G24/Sinopharm are halal. “Abu Dhabi (UAE)’s ulema council has announce that there is no issue with the halal status of the G24 vaccine,” he said. (Committee for COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery Communication Team/ Vice Presidential Secretariat /UN)

Translated by: Rany Anjany
Reviewed by: Lulu Wuliarti