A national imperative

The Covid-19 pandemic taught us many important lessons. A critical takeaway from the incident is the urgent need to develop and produce our own local vaccines. Stemming from this realisation on the importance of vaccine self-reliance, Malaysia adopts a forward-thinking strategy to become a vaccine-producing nation.

This aspiration is clearly reflected in the establishment of the National Vaccine Development Roadmap (NVDR), together with the upgrading of the Malaysia Genome and Vaccine Institute (MGVI) under the National Institutes of Biotechnology Malaysia (NIBM), which aims to strengthen the national vaccine development ecosystem.

To further support the implementation of the NVDR and its mission to produce Malaysia’s first vaccine by 2030, the Malaysia Vaccine Project Office (MVPO) was established under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI).

Coordination of these efforts was operationalised through four strategic clusters: the Financing and Ecosystem Development Cluster; the Halal Vaccine Development, Governance and Administration Cluster; the Clinical Research Capacity and R&D Cluster; and the Vaccine and Logistics Cluster.

MULTI-STAKEHOLDER COORDINATION

The development of Malaysia’s first locally produced vaccine requires a systematic, well-coordinated plan and strategy. Achieving this national objective requires strong, hierarchical support, including clear top-down directives from the government to ensure policy alignment and resource mobilisation.

The participation of other entities, including key industrial players (e.g., pharmaceutical companies), regulators (e.g., the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency), research institutes, and universities, is essential, as vaccine research and development require substantial synergy and long-term commitment.

This highlights Malaysia’s serious commitment and readiness to strengthen and enhance national health security. Research institutes and universities can play a significant role by conducting discovery-oriented research and developing vaccines at the laboratory scale, followed by preclinical and clinical trials. Subsequently, industry stakeholders should be prepared to commercialise the developed vaccine.

INTEGRATING HALAL CONSIDERATIONS

While substantial efforts are being made to develop Malaysia’s first homegrown vaccine, one critical criterion is ensuring that the locally produced vaccine can be certified halal.

Given Malaysia’s established reputation as a global leader and reference point in the halal industry, the nation is well-positioned to leverage its existing expertise, regulatory frameworks, and certification infrastructure to pioneer the development of a halal-compliant vaccine.

Prioritising this aspect not only aligns with domestic expectations, particularly among Muslim communities, but also enhances Malaysia’s potential to serve international markets seeking halal biopharmaceutical products, thereby strengthening the country’s competitiveness and leadership in the global halal ecosystem.

However, numerous factors must be taken into account to ensure that a vaccine can be certified as halal and fulfil all requirements.

The certification process requires comprehensive and accurate information on both the technical aspects and the relevant shariah principles governing permissible substances and methods in vaccine development.

Islamic scholars, who are directly or indirectly involved in the certification process, cannot merely issue legal rulings in isolation. At the same time, they must also develop a thorough understanding of the scientific and technical aspects involved, including the selection of raw materials and the manufacturing procedures.

Such interdisciplinary collaboration is essential to ensure that the final product meets all halal requirements while maintaining the safety, efficacy, and quality standards expected of modern vaccines. The involvement of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) should be initiated at the early stages of vaccine development to ensure that all halal requirements are fulfilled from the outset.

SHOULD VACCINES BE HALAL CERTIFIED?

In principle, vaccines are considered permissible, within the context of Maqasid al-shariah, necessity and public health protection. This permissibility is grounded in broader Islamic and ethical considerations that prioritise the preservation of life and the prevention of harm (Mufti of Federal Territory’s Office, 2015).

Nevertheless, beyond their inherent permissibility, there is a parallel and ongoing effort to subject vaccines to formal halal certification, similar to other consumer products such as food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

The pursuit of halal certification for vaccines is intended to enhance transparency, build public confidence, and align vaccine production processes with established halal standards, thereby reinforcing their acceptability among diverse consumer groups.

Given Malaysia’s inherently multicultural and multireligious context, halal vaccines should not be understood solely through the lens of religious obligation or Islamic legal compliance.

Instead, the halal vaccine should be positioned as a universal standard that emphasises quality, safety, ethical sourcing, and public health assurance, thereby making it relevant to all members of society regardless of faith (Khoo et al., 2020). Accordingly, the principles of halal and toyyib should underpin halal vaccine development.

In practice, halal certification often signifies rigorous production standards that extend beyond religious considerations, encompassing cleanliness, traceability, and manufacturing integrity.

Notably, non-Muslim consumers in Malaysia and elsewhere have long accepted halal-certified products in various sectors, including food, cosmetics, and services, without perceiving them as exclusive or restrictive.

By the same rationale, halal vaccines should be viewed as equally inclusive, particularly when their adoption contributes to broader public health objectives and societal well-being.

It is acknowledged that religious considerations are among several factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy and refusal. In particular, segments of the Muslim community have demonstrated reluctance toward vaccination due to concerns regarding the potential use of non-halal substances in vaccine formulation and production processes.

Such concerns are often rooted in limited transparency, insufficient access to authoritative religious guidance, and misconceptions about the sourcing and processing of vaccine components.

Addressing these issues through halal certification is therefore essential to enhance vaccine acceptance, strengthen public trust, and support broader immunisation efforts.

Indeed, halal vaccine development reflects a commitment to public health, ethical responsibility, and societal well-being, which is rooted in and aligned with the Quranic emphasis on the sanctity of life. Allah (SWT) said in verse 32, Chapter Al-Maidah:

“…whoever saves one life, it is as if he had saved all of mankind…” (Quran, Al-Maidah; 5:32)

A NATIONAL PRIORITY

In a nutshell, the development of indigenous vaccines must begin immediately and be pursued as a continuous national priority. This is a critical moment for Malaysia to move from being a consumer to a producer of vaccines.

Sustained investment in research and development, capacity building, and multi-stakeholder collaboration will be essential to ensure that halal vaccines meet both scientific and religious standards, thereby strengthening global health security and empowering Muslim communities worldwide.