Indonesian President Joko Widodo urges caution to ensure coronavirus vaccine is halal
- With more than 365,000 coronavirus cases and 12,000 deaths, the world’s most populous Muslim nation has struggled to contain its outbreak
- Controversy over whether vaccines adhere to Islamic principles in 2018 stymied Indonesia’s public health response to a measles outbreak
Senior ministers have indicated that emergency vaccine authorisation could be granted as early as November.
But the president signalled a more cautionary approach, warning against haste and urging clear public messaging about whether vaccines were halal, or permissible under Islam.
“I ask that this vaccine is not rushed because it’s so complex,” Widodo said ahead of a closed meeting.
“I want to ensure there is good preparation. On public communication, especially in relation to halal and haram, the price and quality.”
Indonesia has secured 50 million doses from China’s Sinovac by March next year and 100 million from AstraZeneca by next April, in addition to other deals.
Vaccines from Sinovac as well as China’s Sinopharm and CanSino Biologics for 9.1 million people will be available this year, with health workers prioritised, said Achmad Yurianto, a senior health ministry official.
Indonesia’s rush to secure supplies of unproven vaccines has generated concern among epidemiologists, some of which argue it should instead focus on testing and contact tracing until a safe and effective vaccine is available.
“Many countries think a vaccine will be their silver bullet to deal with the pandemic,” said Dicky Budiman, an Indonesian epidemiologist from Australia’s Griffith University. “But unfortunately, the history of pandemics, the literature, does not support that.”