Are there any COVID-19 vaccines that use pig fat or pork products?
Are there any COVID-19 vaccines that use pig fat or pork products?
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Gelatin from pork and cow products is often used in vaccines to stabilize the drug's ingredients and ensure they remain effective through the distribution process. The COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca do not use pork gelatin in their formulas, but there is widespread concern over vaccines from other companies, which have not released a list of their ingredients. Three of the companies that religious groups are concerned about most are Sinovac, Sinopharm, and CanSino Biologics, which have not released official statements about whether or not their products use pork-derived gelatin. Gamaleya Research Institute, Johnson & Johnson, Novavax, and Bektop have received limited approval for releasing their vaccines around the world, but have not noted whether or not they use gelatin in their formulas either. No other companies have declared that they are using pork products in their vaccines at this time though nearly all of them are still in the development, research and clinical trials phases.
Gelatin from pork and cow products is often used in vaccines to stabilize the drug's ingredients and ensure they remain effective through the distribution process. The COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca do not use pork gelatin in their formulas, but there is widespread concern over vaccines from other companies, which have not released a list of their ingredients. Three of the companies that religious groups are concerned about most are Sinovac, Sinopharm, and CanSino Biologics, which have not released official statements about whether or not their products use pork-derived gelatin. Gamaleya Research Institute, Johnson & Johnson, Novavax, and Bektop have received limited approval for releasing their vaccines around the world, but have not noted whether or not they use gelatin in their formulas either. No other companies have declared that they are using pork products in their vaccines at this time though nearly all of them are still in the development, research and clinical trials phases.
Publication
What our experts say
Gelatin from pork and cow products is often used in vaccines to stabilize the drug's ingredients and ensure they remain effective through the distribution process.
The COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca do not use pork gelatin in their formulas, but there is widespread concern over vaccines from other companies, which have not released a list of their ingredients.
Three of the companies that religious groups are concerned about most are Sinovac, Sinopharm, and CanSino Biologics, which have not released official statements about whether or not their products use pork-derived gelatin.
Gamaleya Research Institute, Johnson & Johnson, Novavax, and Bektop have received limited approval for releasing their vaccines around the world, but have not noted whether or not they use gelatin in their formulas either. No other companies have declared that they are using pork products in their vaccines at this time though nearly all of them are still in the development, research and clinical trials phases.
Gelatin from pork and cow products is often used in vaccines to stabilize the drug's ingredients and ensure they remain effective through the distribution process.
The COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca do not use pork gelatin in their formulas, but there is widespread concern over vaccines from other companies, which have not released a list of their ingredients.
Three of the companies that religious groups are concerned about most are Sinovac, Sinopharm, and CanSino Biologics, which have not released official statements about whether or not their products use pork-derived gelatin.
Gamaleya Research Institute, Johnson & Johnson, Novavax, and Bektop have received limited approval for releasing their vaccines around the world, but have not noted whether or not they use gelatin in their formulas either. No other companies have declared that they are using pork products in their vaccines at this time though nearly all of them are still in the development, research and clinical trials phases.
Context and background
Muslim communities have expressed concern in recent days over the contents of some of the COVID-19 vaccines currently in clinical trials and production around the world. At the center of their apprehension is whether the vaccines contain pig fat or pork products, which are prohibited under Islamic law.
On Dec. 23, 2020, the United Arab Emirates' highest Islamic authority said that COVID-19 vaccines are permissible for Muslims, even if they contain pork gelatin. In other countries, including India, Muslim leaders are still debating their positions.
Muslim communities have expressed concern in recent days over the contents of some of the COVID-19 vaccines currently in clinical trials and production around the world. At the center of their apprehension is whether the vaccines contain pig fat or pork products, which are prohibited under Islamic law.
On Dec. 23, 2020, the United Arab Emirates' highest Islamic authority said that COVID-19 vaccines are permissible for Muslims, even if they contain pork gelatin. In other countries, including India, Muslim leaders are still debating their positions.
Resources
- Concern among Muslims over halal status of COVID-19 vaccine (PBS)
- COVID-19 Vaccine Frontrunners and Their Nanotechnology Design (ACS Nano)
- Top Ten Questions Imams & Scholars Get asked about Vaccines (BBSI)
- Pork components in vaccines become 'halal' when chemically treated: Egypt's Dar Al-Iftaa (ahram)
- COVID-19 Vaccines Containing Pork Gelatin Permissible for Muslims, Says UAE Fatwa Council (Yahoo!)
- Coronavirus Vaccine Tracker (NYT)
- Concern among Muslims over halal status of COVID-19 vaccine (PBS)
- COVID-19 Vaccine Frontrunners and Their Nanotechnology Design (ACS Nano)
- Top Ten Questions Imams & Scholars Get asked about Vaccines (BBSI)
- Pork components in vaccines become 'halal' when chemically treated: Egypt's Dar Al-Iftaa (ahram)
- COVID-19 Vaccines Containing Pork Gelatin Permissible for Muslims, Says UAE Fatwa Council (Yahoo!)
- Coronavirus Vaccine Tracker (NYT)
