Halal status of COVID-19 vaccine raises concerns among Muslims
Radicals’ reactions to the vaccination issue has raised concerns about the possibility of disrupted immunisation campaigns.
Tuesday 22/12/2020
Muslim women ride a motorbike past a coronavirus-themed mural in Jakarta, Indonesia. (AP)
JAKARTA As companies race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine and countries scramble to secure doses, radicals in some Muslim countries are busy raising the issue of halal and haram (permissible and impermissible) amid talk about the use of pork products.
Radicals’ reactions to the vaccination issue has raised concerns about the possibility of disrupted immunisation campaigns.
Pork-derived gelatin
Pork-derived gelatin has been widely used as a stabiliser to ensure vaccines remain safe and effective during storage and transport. Some companies have worked for years to develop pork-free vaccines: Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis has produced a pork-free meningitis vaccine, while Saud
URL copied Image Source : AP
Muslim women ride a motorbike past a coronavirus-themed mural in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020
In October, Indonesian diplomats and Muslim clerics stepped off a plane in China. While the diplomats were there to finalize deals to ensure millions of doses reached Indonesian citizens, the clerics had a much different concern: Whether the COVID-19 vaccine was permissible for use under Islamic law.
As companies race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine and countries scramble to secure doses, questions about the use of pork products â banned by some religious groups â have raised concerns about the possibility of disrupted immunization campaigns.
Vaccine. Representational Image (Photo Credits: IANS)
Jakarta, December 21: In October, Indonesian diplomats and Muslim clerics stepped off a plane in China. While the diplomats were there to finalise deals to ensure millions of doses reached Indonesian citizens, the clerics had a much different concern: Whether the COVID-19 vaccine was permissible for use under Islamic law.
As companies race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine and countries scramble to secure doses, questions about the use of pork products banned by some religious groups has raised concerns about the possibility of disrupted immunisation campaigns.
Pork-derived gelatin has been widely used as a stabilizer to ensure vaccines remain safe and effective during storage and transport. Some companies have worked for years to develop pork-free vaccines: Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis has produced a pork-free meningitis vaccine, while Saudi- and Malaysia-based AJ Pharma is currently working on one of their own.
‘No pork in Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines’
JAKARTA, Indonesia, Dec 21, (AP): In October, Indonesian diplomats and Muslim clerics stepped off a plane in China. While the diplomats were there to finalize deals to ensure millions of doses reached Indonesian citizens, the clerics had a much different concern: Whether the COVID-19 vaccine was permissible for use under Islamic law.
As companies race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine and countries scramble to secure doses, questions about the use of pork products banned by some religious groups has raised concerns about the possibility of disrupted immunization campaigns. Pork-derived gelatin has been widely used as a stabilizer to ensure vaccines remain safe and effective during storage and transport. Some companies have worked for years to develop pork-free
Siphiwe Sibeko/Pool via AP
Some Muslims are concerned over the Halal status of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The consumption of pork is not permitted under Islamic law and it is often used as a stabilizer in vaccines.
Most feel that getting vaccines with these stabilizers is permissible under Islamic law because not getting them would be a greater harm.
Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca have said pork products aren t part of their COVID-19 vaccines.
In October, Indonesian diplomats and Muslim clerics stepped off a plane in China. While the diplomats were there to finalize deals to ensure millions of doses reached Indonesian citizens, the clerics had a much different concern: Whether the COVID-19 vaccine was permissible for use under Islamic law.