VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Head of the council's fatwa and halal affairs, Asrorun Niam Sholeh, at an online press conference originating from Jakarta on Friday (January 8, 2021). (ANTARA/HO-Indonesian Ulema Council)

The Indonesian Ulema Council’s Fatwa Committee Assembly has said while it is yet to issue a complete fatwa for Sinovac’s COVID-19 vaccine, the antivirus from China has been found to comprise pure and halal materials.

"The complete fatwa will be delivered after the Food and Drugs Supervisory Agency (BPOM) delivers the safety aspect of the vaccine usage," said head of the council's fatwa and halal affairs, Asrorun Niam Sholeh, at an online press conference, here on Friday.

However, Sholeh confirmed that the council's review team has concluded that the materials in the Sinovac vaccine are pure and halal, based on Sharia law.He explained that the fatwa on the vaccine's halal status can only be released in complete form when two vital elements are fulfilled, that is, when it is found to be halal and safe (toyib).

Meanwhile, the fatwa committee assembly has agreed on the vaccine's halal status, leaving only the safety aspect that is yet to be released by the BPOM, he added.

"Whether it is safe to be used or not, the fatwa commission will keep an eye on that," he said, referring to the emergency-use authorization for the vaccine by the BPOM.

The council's deputy director, Marsudi Syuhud, said that determining the vaccine's safety aspect is within the BPOM's purview, while the council is in charge of determining its halal status//ANT