MUI Fatwa Calls India-made Covovax Vaccine Haram!

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) issued a fatwa related to the COVID-19 vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India Pvt under the name Covovaxmirnaty (Covovax).

In its fatwa, the MUI stated that the Covovax vaccine is unlawful. This is stated in Fatwa Number 10 of 2022 concerning the Law of the COVID-19 Vaccine.

"The fatwa stipulates that the COVID-19 vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India Pvt is unlawful. The argument is, because in the production stage it was found that enzymes were used from pig pancreas," wrote the MUI statement on its official website, Friday, June 24.

In the MUI fatwa, there are a number of recommendations to the government regarding the use of vaccines. First, the government must prioritize the use of halal COVID-19 vaccines as much as possible, especially for Muslims.

Second, the government needs to optimize the procurement of a halal-certified COVID-19 vaccine.

Third, the government must ensure that other COVID-19 vaccines that will be used are certified halal at the first opportunity to realize the government's commitment to safe and halal vaccinations.

Fourth, the government must guarantee and ensure the safety of the vaccines used. Fifth, the government must not vaccinate with vaccines which, based on the judgment of competent and trusted experts, have a harmful impact (dlarar).

"Sixth, appeal to all parties to get closer to Allah SWT by increasing istighfar, istighasah, and munajat to Allah SWT," the statement said.

To date, Indonesia has received millions of Covovax vaccines from India. Covovax vaccine is a recombinant spike protein vaccine produced by SII.

The Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) has also issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Covovax vaccine.