Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, got the first dose of Coronavirus vaccine. Also, more than 5,000,000 people have already enrolled to take COVID-19 vaccine in Saudi Arabia since it was introduced last Tuesday, according to the Ministry of Health.
Several Muslim groups plan to boycott vaccines expressing their concerns as to whether the vaccine will be made from ‘Halal’ ingredients.
The highest Muslim body in Indonesia is set to grant a halal certificate for the experimental Coronavirus vaccine produced by China-based Sinovac Biotech. The Indonesian Ulema Council Halal Product Guarantee Agency and the Institute for the Assessment of Fruit, Medicines and Cosmetics had completed its analysis and the fatwa and halal certification is expected shortly, said Minister Muhadjir Effendy of Human Development and Culture to the media.
Sunni Muslim scholars from the Raza College, Mumbai, and All India Sunni Jamiyathul Ulama have released a fatwa vaccine against Chinese pork gelatin. Saeed Noorie, Secretary-General of the Raza Academy, said in a statement that the Indian government did not order a Chinese vaccine that reportedly contains pork gelatin. He said, “For every vaccine ordered or developed in India, the government should provide us with a list of contents so that we can make announcements about the use of the vaccine.
Moreover, as India braces for vaccination against Coronavirus, the controversy on the possible use of pork in COVID-19 vaccines has escalated among various Muslim scholars and organisations. Maulana Noor-ur Rehman Barkati, Shahi Imam of Tipu Sultan Masjid in Kolkata, West Bengal, has also given a vaccination sermon.
The Imam said that while the world is facing the scourge of coronavirus, the Muslim faith is not afraid of the virus and will not take the vaccine. “I say clearly that Muslims will not use the vaccine,” the Imam said in an interview.
Aversion of vaccinations by the Muslim community due to them being ‘haram’ or containing pork products is not a recent practise. In 2018, the Indonesian Ulema Council, the country’s top clerical body awarding halal certificates, announced that measles and rubella vaccines were haram because of pork-derived gelatin.