Coronavirus Vaccine Halal or Haraam? Muslim leaders express concern over use of pork-derived gelatin | India News



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NEW DELHI: As companies around the world rush to develop the COVID-19 vaccine and countries scramble to secure doses, some religious communities have raised concerns about the use of pork products in the vaccine. The use or consumption of pork products is prohibited in some religious groups, say Muslims and Jews.

Rumors have spread around the world that pork has been used to develop the coronavirus vaccine and subsequently sparked a debate among the Muslim community about vaccination. However, some Muslim scholars have observed that in the Qur’an the use of “haram” elements is allowed to save a person’s life.

Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali, a Muslim leader in Uttar Pradesh, has advised people in his community to get the vaccine rather than get involved in being a part of any rumors.

“We welcome the government’s move. It is a matter of happiness that people are regularly advised to take all security measures and protect themselves against COVID-19. I appeal to everyone to ignore any rumors about the COVID-19 vaccine. Don’t be a question of religion. Safety of life is the most important thing, so get vaccinated in all the usual ways. First, try to get older members of your family to get the injection. The vaccine is not being brought by any political party and therefore it would be wrong to give it a political color. The Islamic Center had assisted the government in the campaign against polio. This time, it will also help in the COVID-19 vaccination campaign during this pandemic. “Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahli, president of the Islamic Center of India, said in a statement.

Speaking to the AP, Dr Salman Waqar, secretary general of the British Islamic Medical Association, said: “Pig-derived gelatin has been used extensively as a stabilizer to ensure that vaccines remain safe and effective during storage and transport. Some companies have worked for years to develop pork-free vaccines. But the demand, existing supply chains, cost and shorter shelf life of vaccines that do not contain swine gelatin mean the ingredient is likely to continue to be used. in most vaccines for years. “

Spokespersons for Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca have said that pork products are not part of their COVID-19 vaccines. But limited supply and pre-existing millions of dollars worth of deals with other companies mean that some countries with large Muslim populations, like Indonesia, will receive vaccines that have not yet been certified as gelatin-free.

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