Uncertainty and the ‘Halal’ Status of Vaccines in Indonesia

This paper examines the socio-political construction of risk and uncertainty by policy and practice actors in relation to the halal status of vaccines in Indonesia. Religious values play an important role in the public health presentation and uptake of vaccines in Indonesia. The COVID-19 pandemic highlights these, where the halal (‘lawful’) status of vaccines was an important concern. For example, the AstraZeneca vaccine was initially considered haram (‘unlawful’) by the Indonesian Ulemma Council (MUI) due to the use of tryspin derived from pigs in the production process (Fatwa No. 14/2021). Later, an emergency legal standing was provided by the MUI to declare the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine halal; under Islamic law, emergency public health needs allowed for the use of products that might be considered haram under other circumstances. However, some communities contested these declarations, resulting in distrust and non-compliance with vaccination strategies. This effect is also seen in relation to endemic, emerging and re-emerging infectious disease (Alsuwaidi, 2023). Although Indonesia is uniquely positioned in relation to local capacity for vaccine development, there are challenges in developing vaccines that carry halal status. This includes the perception among industry actors that there is inconsistency around the process and criteria for establishing a halal designation. Vaccine manufacturers report inconsistencies surrounding the forms of evidence required to obtain halal status, and conversely, members of the Halal Product Fatwa Committee often lack expertise or insight into the manufacturing process. This paper analyses the contrasting narratives of the stakeholder groups engaged with the determination of halal vaccine status in Indonesia, highlighting the construction of uncertainties surrounding this process. Through semi-structured interviews with policy actors, NGO representatives, and religious leaders, we articulate the complex socio-political framing of halal vaccines and how this has contributed to contestations of halal vaccine status.