COVID-19 vaccine controversy: Chinese vaccine with pork gelatin cannot be given to Muslims, say Sunni scholars

24-12-2020

As India awaits COVID-19 vaccine, Sunni Muslim scholars from Mumbai's Raza Academy said that Chinese vaccine containing pork gelatin is �haram� for Muslims. The decision was taken after certain reports claimed that Chinese vaccine contains pork gelatin. Raza Academy�s Secretary-General, Saeed Noorie in a video statement urged the Indian government to not place an order for the Chinese vaccine which contains pork gelatin. �For any vaccine which has been ordered or made in India, the government should show us the list of content so that we can make announcements regarding the use of the vaccine,� said Noorie. 'Govt should show us the list of content used for vaccine development'. Meanwhile, Swami Chakrapani Maharaj, Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha president also claimed that COVID-19 vaccine made from cow�s blood in America should not be used in India. Calling it an international conspiracy to destroy the religion of Hindus, Swami Chakrapani said that a vaccine or medicine using cow urine or cow dung can be used by Hindus. He further said that foreign companies must disclose the process of vaccine development so that people�s religion is not destroyed. According to a report by Associated Press, vaccines developed to prevent COVID-19 infection can be administered to Muslims in UAE even if they contain pork gelatin.

Vaccines containing pork gelatin permissible for Muslims: UAE
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Sheikh Abdallah bin Bayyah, who heads the UAE Fatwa Council, the highest Islamic authority in the country, has said that the coronavirus vaccines would not be subject to Islam�s ban on pork-derived products because of the greater cause to �protect the human body�. Pork gelatin used in vaccines is considered medicine and not food, the UAE Fatwa Council ruled. Muslims across the world have raised concerns over the use of porcine gelatin in COVID-19 vaccines. Pork-derived gelatin in vaccines is used by pharmaceutical companies as a stabilizer to ensure they remain safe and effective during storage and transport.