Hello everyone, how are you? I hope you are doing well. This weekly prompt is very interesting. It talks about vaccines. To be honest, long before the pandemic I was not close to vaccines. It's just that, I remember when my family discussed vaccines during the Hajj pilgrimage.
But, during the pandemic, I really experienced it firsthand. One year of the pandemic felt very boring. We all felt imprisoned, but hope began to emerge. Several countries began to conduct research on vaccines. From there I began to feel relieved, but a number of people began to worry about vaccines.
Especially people with Islamic beliefs. On the one hand, there was a widespread belief that a number of vaccines contained pork. But, that was only on social media. The Ministry of Health clarified a lot about this. The public began to be noisy regarding the Covid-19 vaccine.
The public hopes that the Covid vaccine will be made in Indonesia rather than having to take it from other countries. Indonesia is the country with the largest Muslim population. So, halal values need to be the main value. Not only a matter of vaccines but also food. Some people, it is better to bring their own food than having to try new foods abroad.
But, that's the principle. I don't blame them. Half a year has passed, Indonesia finally has a vaccine. The Ministry of Health is collaborating with several religious communities so that the vaccine can be accepted. In fact, such as Nahdlatul Ulama (one of the Islamic bases in Indonesia) issued a Fatma if the vaccine is halal.
Likewise with the Muslim community or other religions. Everyone makes views about Muslims. The place where I work also participated in the campaign and socialization about the vaccine. Where the vaccine is halal and there are many benefits to the vaccine. Where it can thicken the body's immunity.
It seems that this is a challenge to live in a country with a Muslim majority. It is necessary to ensure that the vaccine is halal and several communities need to issue a fatwa so that people feel safe. However, social media has become a disseminator of inaccurate information about the vaccine. This is also a shared task to carry out a counter narrative.
It is a bit difficult to convince the public regarding the vaccine. It only needs other foundations that are not just health. That's all I can tell you. What do you think? Are you the same as me? Then see you in the next story.
Picture from canva
About Author
My name is Nurdiani Latifah. I live in Jakarta – Indonesia, and after 25 years I live in Bandung. I am a media staff at an NGO in Indonesia. I have worked in this institution for almost 2 years on issues of women and peace. I have been a journalist in Bandung for 3 years.
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