AstraZeneca counters Indonesian Muslim issues over Covid-19 vaccine

AstraZeneca stated on Sunday its Covid-19 vaccine incorporates no pork-derived substances, countering an assertion in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation, that the drug violates Islamic regulation.
Indonesia’s highest Muslim clerical council, the Indonesia Ulema Council, stated on its web site Friday that the vaccine is “haram” as a result of the manufacturing course of makes use of “trypsin from the pork pancreas”.
“Still, the council approved the AstraZeneca vaccine for use given the pandemic emergency. But AstraZeneca Indonesia director Rizman Abudaeri said in a statement: “At all stages of the production process, this virus vector vaccine does not use nor come in contact with pork-derived products or other animal products.”
The council and the nation’s meals and drug company didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark. Indonesian authorities on Friday authorized using AstraZeneca’s vaccine after reviewing experiences that it had triggered blood clots amongst some recipients in Europe.

Indonesia is grappling with one of many worst coronavirus outbreaks in Asia – with 1,455,788 instances and 39,447 deaths as of Saturday.