VP Ma'ruf Amin Weighs in on Haram Label of AstraZeneca Vaccine
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22 March 2021 15:34 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Vice President Ma’ruf Amin on Monday voiced his concerns over the haram label debacle the AstraZeneca vaccines received from the Indonesia Ulema Council (MUI).
The VP asserted this issue should not be further disputed as the same organization also permitted the vaccine’s use for emergency situations.
“Halal or not, I think what needs to be questioned is whether it is allowed or not, instead of the halal or not halal debate. Because even if it isn't halal the MUI has allowed its use. That shouldn’t be a problem for me personally,” he said on March 22.
He explained AstraZeneca as the vaccine’s producer had also denied that its vaccines contained elements extracted from swine. Amin believed if this was verifiable then it would no longer be an issue.
The VP’s statement was echoed by Health Deputy Minister Dante Saksono Harbuwono who guaranteed the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine despite acknowledging that a number of cases in Europe found cases of blood clotting linked to the use of this vaccine.
Despite expiring on May 31, the AstraZeneca vaccine has started to be distributed to a number of regions for immediate use, he said.
Read: Jokowi: East Java Ready to Administer AstraZeneca Vaccine
EGI ADYATAMA
