Jakarta, The Indonesia Post – Head of the Indonesian Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM), Penny K Lukito, confirmed that the three domestic COVID-19 vaccine producers have all obtained halal certificates from the relevant authorities.
“All vaccines are halal. Already certified halal, so all domestic COVID-19 vaccines are halal vaccines,” said Penny K Lukito in Jakarta, Wednesday.
Halal certification for vaccines was issued by the Indonesian Ulema Council (LPPOM MUI) for the Assessment of Food, Drugs and Cosmetics (LPPOM MUI) after going through a series of halal aspects audits.
The three domestic COVID-19 vaccine producers in question are the IndoVac Vaccine produced by PT Bio Farma with Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), the InaVac Vaccine produced by PT Biotis Pharmaceutical Indonesia in collaboration with Airlangga University researchers, and the mRNA platform vaccine produced by PT Etana which is currently it has not been trademarked.
IndoVac is a vaccine with a recombinant protein technology platform that can be adapted to a new variant (strain) of COVID-19. Meanwhile, InaVac carries an inactivated virus platform.
Penny said PT Etana became the first COVID-19 vaccine producer in Indonesia, which currently has a halal certificate in the development of biotechnology products on the mRNA platform.
As is known, the mRNA vaccine is one type of vaccine developed to deal with the spread of COVID-19. The vaccine is the newest type, which has different contents from other types of vaccines.
Conventional vaccines usually contain a virus or disease-causing germ that has been weakened or killed. However, the mRNA (messenger RNA) vaccine is a vaccine developed with computerized technology in the DNA sequencing process.
The COVID-19 vaccine, which currently carries an mRNA platform other than Ethane, is a manufacturer from the United States, Moderna and Pfizer.
“The Ethane-produced vaccine is an mRNA vaccine that can be stored from 2 to 8 degrees Celsius. So, I think this is a good technology too, we are already in Indonesia,” she said. (mhn/bbs)
Comment