The halal certificate was given after the Food and Drug Research Institute (LPPOM) of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and the Halal Certification Agency (BPJPH) conducted an audit of the vaccine.
"We have autonomy over the availability of vaccines. So far, we still buy and receive vaccines from other countries. Vaccine independence is very important," Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said during the presentation of the Merah Putih vaccine halal certificate to PT Biotis Pharmaceuticals, which was available for viewing online here on Thursday.
Qoumas noted that PT Biotis had taken a bold step by entering the COVID-19 vaccine industry, especially now that developer countries have mass-produced vaccines, in an effort to end the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, he emphasised that the step was taken solely because of the need to be independent, in terms of the availability of COVID-19 vaccines.
He noted that the Merah Putih vaccine would boost the public’s participation, especially among Muslims, to receive vaccines that have been certified as halal.
Meanwhile, Head of the Halal Certification Agency (BPJPH) at the Ministry of Religious Affairs Aqil Irham ensured that the Merah Putih vaccine is halal compliant, noting that his agency has been involved from the audit to the production process.
Irham expressed his hope that the Merah Putih vaccine could become one of Indonesia's halal products to be exported.
Earlier, PT Biotis Pharmaceuticals Indonesia, which is producing the Merah Putih COVID-19 vaccine in collaboration with Airlangga University, said it is seeking to produce 240 million vaccine doses per year.
Related news: Merah Putih trial participants to be observed for 1 yr: researcher
"The production capacity is 240 million doses per year," the President Director of PT Biotis Pharmaceuticals Indonesia, FX Sudirman, said.
Currently, the Merah Putih vaccine is in its first phase of clinical trials, he noted. After the results are obtained, and the safety of the vaccine is determined, it will proceed to the second and third phase clinical trials, he added.
Related news: Phase 1 clinical trial for Merah Putih vaccine huge leap: BRIN
Translator: Asep Firmansyah, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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