Erick Thohir: Halal Bio Farma COVID-19 Vaccine Raw Material

Minister of BUMN, Erick Thohir. (Photo: Ministry of BUMN)

JAKARTA - State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Minister Erick Thohir emphasized that the COVID-19 vaccine made by PT Bio Farma is confirmed to be made from halal raw materials. In fact, vaccines have also been distributed to Middle Eastern countries.

"God willing, the raw material is definitely halal. Because Bio Farma has become one of the centers for halal vaccine production, many Middle Eastern countries have purchased it," he said, during a visit to PT Bio Farma, in Bandung, West Java, Tuesday, August 4.

The halal certification for the COVID-19 vaccine will later be issued by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) after the vaccine is produced. However, Erick emphasized that so far Bio Farma has been accustomed to producing vaccines with halal raw materials.

"Of course for the COVID-19 vaccine, the halal certification is at MUI, but the raw materials and production are ready," he explained.

Erick appealed to the public not to have any doubts about the quality of the COVID-19 vaccine which will be produced by the parent of this pharmaceutical BUMN. Because, according to him, the company had enough experience since 1890.

Furthermore, Erick said, Bio Farma is the largest vaccine company in Southeast Asia. This can be seen from the ability of this BUMN to produce two billion units of vaccine.

"So it means that if later the COVID-19 vaccine will really have a good clinical trial, God willing, the public should not doubt it. So the Bio Farma story started long enough and has been recognized by the world," he said.

In addition, Erick revealed, currently Bio Farma has a building ready to produce vaccines with a capacity of 100 million units. At the end of this year, there will be a new vaccine production building that can produce 150 million vaccine units.

"This means that with a capacity of 250 million, next year when we produce vaccines, God willing, the numbers will be sufficient. But again, the vaccines first need to be tested clinically," he explained.