TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Ma'ruf Amin said today his party would hold a meeting with the Ministry of Health to discuss the halal permit of measles and rubella or MR vaccines. The immunization of this vaccine received the rejection from MUI Riau Islands because it has not received the halal certificate from LP-POM MUI Center.

“Yes, we are talking about it. Tomorrow (today) we will talk about it. God willing, there is no crucial problem,” Ma'ruf said at the Presidential Palace Complex, Wednesday night, August 1.

Ma’ruf confirmed that until now his party has not issued a halal certificate for the MR vaccine. “In MUI, if there is a medicine, a vaccine, it is not halal, but if there is no substitute [medicine] but it is needed, there is a way so it can be used,” he said.

He hopes today’s meeting with the Ministry of Health can find a solution to the MR vaccine. “Yes, the Ministry of Health will meet with the MUI, and the MUI will provide a solution,” he said.

Previously, the MUI Riau Islands appealed to its residents not to participate in measles immunization. This is stated in circular letter number Ket-53/DP-P-V/VII/2018 addressed to the Governor of Riau Islands dated 30 July 2018.

MUI Riau Islands asked the Ministry of Health to postpone the immunization with MR vaccines until a halal certificate issued by Central MUI. In addition, they asked the central MUI to immediately meet with the Ministry of Health to discuss the issue.

AHMAD FAIZ IBNU SANI