Jakarta – The Indonesian federal government will not start administering COVID-19 vaccines without a fatwa or a choice about the halal status of the vaccines from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), the vice governmental spokesperson said.
The COVID-19 vaccine program will be undertaken after MUI reveals its decision on the halal status of the vaccine, that is, whether it is religiously acceptable for usage according to Muslim law, Masduki Baidlowi told reporters here on Tuesday.
The Indonesian Ulema Council Assessment Institute for Foods, Drugs and Cosmetics (LPPOM MUI) team members have been working on matters connected to the halal status of China’s Sinovac vaccine, he stated.
In connection with the federal government’s nationwide COVID-19 vaccination program, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has notified Vice President Ma’ ruf Amin on preparations for synchronised vaccine administration throughout the nation, he informed.
Gunadi has also told the Vice President that the vaccination program would be conducted after MUI problems a fatwa and the Drug and Food Control Agency (BPOM) gives emergency-use permission (EUA) for the vaccine.
Among the vital preparations for carrying out the national vaccination program was distributing three million doses of Sinovac vaccine that had arrived in Indonesia in December, 2020 to all provinces, Baidlowi said.
A number of provinces have actually gotten the first batch of vaccine materials, including Banten (14,560 dosages), Central Java (62,560 dosages), West Sumatra (36,920 doses), West Sulawesi (5,960 dosages), North Kalimantan (10,680 doses), and Papua (14,680 doses).
President Joko Widodo and numerous top federal government authorities have actually been scheduled to get their vaccine shots on January 13, 2021, according to Presidential Secretariat head Heru Budi Hartono.
The Indonesian federal government is making every effort to win the hearts and minds of all residents and get their involvement for the COVID-19 immunization program.
From the start, the government has consistently expressed self-confidence that the COVID-19 vaccine will assist contain the pandemic, which has posed a serious risk to public health and economy.
Over the past few months, it has striven to protect potential COVID-19 vaccines for Indonesians through bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
Indonesia has actually developed cooperation with China and the United Kingdom for the procurement and supply of COVID-19 vaccines, while at the very same time, it has actually motivated the development of its own COVID-19 vaccine, Merah Putih (Red and White), named after the colors of the national flag.
President Widodo recently revealed his readiness to be the first recipient of the vaccine when the BPOM problems emergency-use approval.
He has been striving to encourage the entire country to participate in the vaccination program, which is thought about vital for the government’s ventures to win the fight against the continuous pandemic.
The federal government understands the truth that not all Indonesians are eager to get immunized, deputy chair of the COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery Committee (KPC-PEN), Erick Thohir, stated recently.
Research has shown that 66 percent of Indonesians are keen to get vaccinated, while 16 percent hesitate to join the vaccination program, he revealed.
He admitted that he did not know the reasons why some people are refusing to get immunized.
Their resistance might be associated with the question of whether the vaccines would be “halal or haram”, Thohir said including, if that holds true, the federal government will let the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) deal with the matter.
To encourage Muslim communities to participate in the first stage of the upcoming COVID-19 vaccination program, Presidential Chief of Personnel, Moeldoko, checked out Abdullah Gymnastiar alias Aa Gym’s Islamic boarding school on December 4, 2020.
Throughout his meeting with the popular Muslim preacher at Daarut Tauhid’s eco-Islamic boarding school in Bandung Barat district, West Java, Moeldoko requested him to participate in the vaccination program.
Aa Health club reacted positively to Moeldoko’s request and revealed his preparedness to be a part of the vaccination program if the vaccines are accredited as halal.
The question of halal status for COVID-19 vaccines supplied by foreign pharma companies raised by Aa Gym represents the issues of a number of Muslims in the nation. (INE)
