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The Grand Ayatollah Sistani’s office answers questions on Corona vaccine: It is worth trusting specialized & experienced doctors

SHAFAQNAThe Khoja Shia Ithnaasheri Muslim Community of London raised some questions about the Corona vaccine with the Supreme Religious Authority of the world’s Shia Muslims, and the office of the Grand Ayatollah Sistani answered these questions on 27th December 2020 (12 Jumada Al-Awwal 1442).

According to Shafaqna, the text of the questions and answers is as follows:

The Supreme Religious Authority of the world’s Shia Muslims, the Grand Ayatollah Sistani

As-Salamu Alaykum

Wishing you a long life with perfect health and well-being, please guide us in the following issues:

1- Anti-Corona vaccines produced by “Pfizer (American)”, “AstraZeneca (European)” and “Moderna” companies have been prepared and will be marketed from other countries soon. Medical associations in some countries have approved the vaccines and issued licenses for general use, despite some side effects. However, some imitators are worried that the vaccine may be harmful because, unlike in previous cases, while they have passed the testing process quickly and have not yet reached the final stage, have been licensed due to governments urgency. Some ethnic groups are suspicious of the vaccines based on past negative experiences, but so far no major harm has been done to the majority. What do you recommend in this situation?

2. Governments have prioritized vaccination for medical staff, the elderly people, public safety personnel, and so on, respectively, but some want to get the vaccine sooner out of turn for an additional fee. Is it mandatory to comply with these priorities according to Sharia (Religious Law)?

3- If some third world governments are not able to buy the vaccine and prepare it for all citizens or do not provide it in time, and if doctors recommend to do the vaccination, if possible and if the personal cost of preparing it from the open market is not enough, do you allow to spend Religious incomes to buy, distribute and do the vaccinations to the needy people inside and outside the country?

4. If the vaccine company invites volunteers to register to take part in testing the efficiency and health of the vaccines, can believers volunteer, with the guarantee of vaccine companies to observe caution and care for the health of the volunteer, but with the possibility of exposure to some unexpected side effects which can be severe or even life-threatening?

5- Manufacturers use a variety of substances, including Gelatin from pork, to stabilize vaccine material during injection. Is it possible to rely on producers’ declaration that such substances are not used in the Corona vaccine, as most vaccines are said to use swine Gelatin? And if transformation is possible during its construction, is research necessary? And if the amount of these substances in the vaccine is lethal, is the prevention of risk of death considered as a license for emergency injection?

The text of the answers of the office of the Grand Ayatollah Sistani is as follows:

1- In such cases, it is worth trusting the diagnosis of specialized and experienced doctors. However, according to Sharia, the use of a licensed vaccine is necessary if the risk of contracting the Coronavirus followed with a life-threatening or very serious unpredictable harm is significantly higher than the possibility of severe side effects from using the vaccine.

2- Violation of observance of priorities is not allowed if it is against the law.

3- It is unimpeded in cases where it is necessary.

4- It is not permissible if there is a risk of death or the possibility of severe unpredictable side effects, unless the probability is very weak and insignificant.

5- In any case, there are no religious problems.

12 Jumada Al-Awwal 1442

Persian Version

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