MUI: AstraZeneca Vaccine Allowed for Use albeit Containing Haram Substance
Translator
Editor
March 19, 2021 | 08:42 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ulema Council’s (MUI) Fatwa Commission allowed the use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine albeit it contained a haram substance during its production in South Korea.
“In the production process, it uses trypsin from pigs. But it is allowed for the current use,” said the Fatwa Commission's chairman, Asrorun Niam, in an online press conference on Friday, March 19, 2021.
Asrorun explained his side had taken five considerations for the decision. First, the urgency. Second, the presence of competent and trusted experts’ statements about the dangers or fatal risks of not getting COVID-19 vaccination immediately.
“Third, the availability of halal vaccines is not sufficient for the vaccination in order to achieve herd immunity,” said Asrorun.
The fourth consideration was that the government ensured the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine, and the last was that the government could not yet freely choose the brand of vaccine. “Given the limited availability of vaccines both in Indonesia and the global level,” he added.
According to him, the MUI continued to ask the government to keep striving to provide halal vaccines, particularly for Muslims. “Indonesian Muslims must participate in the COVID-19 vaccination held by the government to achieve herd immunity and be free from the pandemic,” said Asrorun.
Read: MUI Approves AstraZeneca Vaccine for Use
EGI ADYATAMA
