THE Covid-19 vaccine developed by the Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, which will be used in the first clinical trial in Malaysia, is certified halal.

The Health Ministry’s Institute for Clinical Research (ICR) said in a list of frequently asked questions released today the vaccine has been certified as halal by the Halal Services Chongqing, which is a foreign certification authority recognised by Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim).

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri said last month the Covid-19 vaccine was compulsory for groups that have been identified by the government and permissible for others. 

This, he said, was decided by the Special Muzakarah Committee of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs. 

Anti-vaccine groups have previously questioned the contents of the vaccines.

On the safety of the vaccine candidate developed by the China institute, ICR said the purpose of the vaccine trial was to determine the long-term safety profile of the inoculation.

The Health Ministry is calling for 3,000 volunteers to participate in the first Covid-19 vaccine clinical trial in Malaysia.

Only those who have not been previously infected with Covid-19 will be eligible for the clinical trial as former patients who have recovered would already have developed immunity against the coronavirus.

Adults who are aged 18 and above and healthy will be allowed to participate. Those with comorbidity issues, which are under control, can also be a part of the study. 

Prior health screening will be done to ascertain the participants’ health status.

“From previous studies, this vaccine can cause common reactions such as pain, swelling, redness and itching at injection site, fatigue, fever, diarrhoea and other side effects. However they are usually temporary and often treatable,” it said. 

“The long-term safety profile of the vaccine is unknown and this study attempts to study the vaccine safety profile for up to one year,” it added.

ICR said half of the volunteers will receive the vaccine while the other 50% will get a placebo. 

“This is so we can compare the number of infections in those who got the vaccine and those who did not. If the vaccine is found to help, all volunteers who received the placebo will subsequently be given the vaccine after it is approved for marketing,” it added. 

However, participants will not be informed on whether they have received a placebo or the vaccine to protect the “integrity of the study and avoid bias”. 

Two doses will be administered to the participant, whereby the second shot will be given on the 14th day. 

While volunteers will not get paid for their participation, they will be compensated for their time and transport cost.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced on Monday the clinical trials will begin on January 21.

Muhyiddin said as many as 60% to 70%, or 20 to 23 million of the Malaysian population, must be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity. – January 16, 2021.