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Is the Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine Halal?

Question

The UK Government has announced that the Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is to be rolled out within days. Can you confirm whether it is Halal?

Answer

The Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is Halal based on the information available to us.

The UK Government has confirmed that the Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine does not contain any components of animal origin. The Government’s website states, “The Medicines and Healthcare products Agency can confirm that the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine does not contain any components of animal origin.” (source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-approval-of-pfizer-biontech-vaccine-for-covid-19, accessed on 4 December 2020).

We contacted the Pfizer company requesting a breakdown of the ingredients which were shared with us. These are also available on this link. Initially, the only ingredient of concern was cholesterol, because it can be sourced from animal fat although it is normally sourced from the eggs of hens. The aforementioned statement from the Government confirms that it is not sourced from animal fat, therefore it is Halal. The company has also confirmed this in an email to us which states, “All lipid excipients used in COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine BNT162b2 are either from plant-derived sources or are synthetic. The vaccine contains no animal components.”

Please note that this answer is specific to the Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine based on its current ingredients, and does not necessarily extend to other forthcoming vaccines.

Please also note that this answer is regarding the Islamic permissibility of the vaccine. The decision to use the vaccine is a personal decision for each individual to make. It is recommended that individuals read the patient information leaflet to understand the benefits and risks and also discuss with medical professionals should they require further information.

Allah knows best

Yusuf Shabbir

18 Rabi al-Thani 1442 / 4 December 2020

Approved by: Mufti Shabbir Ahmed, Mufti Muhammad Tahir and Dr Mawlana Kallingal Riyad