The vaccine is already there and is being examined (through clinical trial) in Beijing. There is already a joint team from BPOM as well as from the MUI. Later, before vaccination, (permits and fatwas) must first be issued
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin clarified that the permit from the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) and religious order (fatwa) of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) on COVID-19 vaccine should be issued before vaccinating Indonesians.

"The vaccine is already there and is being examined (through clinical trial) in Beijing. There is already a joint team from BPOM as well as from the MUI. Later, before vaccination, (permits and fatwas) must first be issued," Amin stated while reviewing the COVID-19 vaccination simulation at Puskesmas Cikarang Utara, Bekasi, West Java, on Thursday.

Amin explained that the MUI fatwa can fall into two categories: the halal COVID-19 vaccine or pandemic emergency conditions that allow administration of the vaccine to the public despite not being halal-certified.

"(The vaccine) is lawful or because it is basically an emergency. The MUI, as an institution of authority, will issue its fatwa on this matter," the vice president stated.

Amin noted that clinical trials, permits, and fatwas over the COVID-19 vaccine were preparations by the Government to ensure vaccination for Indonesians went smoothly and effectively.

"Hence, this preparation is really thorough, so that when the vaccination is conducted, there will be no obstacles whatsoever," he explained.

Vaccines can be injected to the public if they have an emergency use authorization (EUA), which is a temporary permit issued for the use of certain medical methods or products. EUA guidelines are issued by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on recommendations and related information data.

Meanwhile, the BPOM RI has confirmed that the EUA for the COVID-19 vaccine in Indonesia can be obtained as early as January 2021.

Indonesia has been eyeing several vaccine candidates from several nations, including those made by Sinovac from China. The Sinovac vaccine has currently entered the third phase of clinical trials and has been audited by a team from BPOM and MUI in Beijing, China.

In the first phase, nearly three million vaccines will be imported to Indonesia to be prioritized for health workers, members of the military and police, as well as people directly tasked with handling COVID-19.
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Translator: Fransiska, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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