News Mid East

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Halal vaccines to be ready in three years

The world’s first halal vaccines, currently being developed by Saudi Arabia and Malaysia, are expected to be ready in three years, reported the Malaysian news agency Bernama.

An unnamed Saudi corporation is reportedly ready to invest $100 million (72.1 million euros) in collaboration with the Malaysian Industry Development Corporation (HDC) to develop vaccines meant for treating meningitis, hepatitis and meningococcal. Existing vaccines for the three diseases are currently pork-based; pork is forbidden in Islam. The need for meningitis vaccines in particularly is therefore a pressing one, since it is required for those who head to Mecca for the annual Muslim pilgrimage (Hajj).