MUI Bills Jokowi's Promise During Speech At The NU Congress, When Will Halal COVID Vaccine Stock Be Sufficient?

Head of the MUI Fatwa Sector Asrorun Niam in accordance with giving a halal certificate for the Red and White vaccine at the MUI Office (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) encourages the government to immediately provide halal vaccines in accordance with President Joko Widodo's speech at the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Congress in Lampung some time ago.

"The president's commitment must also be the commitment of presidential assistants in efforts to realize the availability of halal vaccines for the benefit of vaccination for the community, both primary and booster vaccinations," said MUI Fatwa Chair Asrorun Niam at the MUI Jakarta Office, Antara, Thursday, Thursday. February 10.

In a study conducted by MUI, only two vaccines were declared halal, namely Sinovac and Zifivax. While other vaccines used in Indonesia are haram, they can still be used if the availability of halal vaccines is still very limited.

The Bahtsul Masail Institute PBNU views the AstraZeneca vaccine, which according to the MUI is haram, is actually sacred and harmless. Based on a joint study between PBNU and AstraZeneca, the entire vaccine manufacturing process does not use ingredients derived from pork.

However, there was indeed the use of pork trypsin by the supplier, namely Thermo Fisher, before it was purchased by Oxford-AstraZeneca. Thermo Fisher utilizes pig trypsin to separate host cells from cell culture plates or media, not as a mixture or cell germ.

The release of host cells from plates or cell culture media carried out in the production process of AstraZeneca no longer uses pork trypsin, but uses enzymes made from mushrooms. Thus, the production process is sacred.

Responding to the many demands regarding halal booster vaccines, according to Asrorun, it is temporarily permissible to use available vaccines with the aim of protecting health and limited number of halal vaccines. However, if halal vaccines are sufficient, other vaccines should be abandoned.

"If there is a booster vaccination, while there are no halal vaccines and or not enough, yes it can be used. However, if there is a halal vaccine and it is sufficient, it is no longer allowed to use non-halal vaccines," he said.

Meanwhile, regarding the Red and White vaccine, which is currently in the first phase of clinical trials, for Asrorun, it is a breath of fresh air amid the need for vaccines in Indonesia. Moreover, the Red and White vaccine is the result of the development of the nation's children and has received a halal certificate from the MUI.

"It is the government's responsibility to make efforts to procure and prioritize if there is a COVID-19 vaccine available, one halal and one non-halal, it must be held that is halal," he said.

On the one hand, MUI invites the public to strengthen health protocols to avoid potential transmission of COVID-19. Moreover, currently the Omicron variant appears which is considered more contagious than the previous variant.

"Of course, MUI also appeals to the public to contribute positively in preventing and tackling the COVID-19 outbreak with health protocols and also participation in vaccination," he said.