Summary:

Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine, Nuvaxovid, is not permissible to use due to the presence of protein produced by insect cells. It can only be used in cases of necessity when permissible vaccines (such as mRNA vaccines) are not available or are unable to be tolerated.

Ingredients of Vaccine

From the manufacturer[i], Novavax:

As per the manufacturer[ii], the vaccine is free from animal derived ingredients:

“Nuvaxovid Animal Derived Ingredients:

· The Matrix-M adjuvant contains cholesterol from a vegetal-derived, semi-synthetic, non-animal source.

· The Matrix-M adjuvant contains purified egg-derived phosphatidylcholine. It consists of hen egg yolk powder.

· Other raw materials used in the manufacture of the vaccine are of non-animal origin.”

The Use of Moth Cells in the Production Process

Nuvaxovid is a protein-based vaccine that uses spike proteins from the SARS-CoV-2 virus to induce an immune response[iii].   These proteins were produced by inserting a modified spike gene into baculovirus, which is a virus that infects insects.

During the production process, the virus containing the DNA infects Sf9 cells. This cell line was derived from ovarian tissue of the fall army worm, Spodoptera frugiperda– a type of moth[iv]. 

After infecting the cell, the baculovirus releases a nucleocapsid that contains the DNA for the spike protein, and this DNA is then translocated to the moth cell’s nucleus. Inside the nucleus, the DNA is then expressed and the spike protein is produced[v].

Using this process, moth cells produce a large amount of the spike proteins.  The proteins are then isolated and purified from other cellular material for use in the vaccine[vi]:

Ruling

As stated above, the Sf9 cell line was derived from the ovarian tissue of a moth cell.  Although the cells have undergone countless replication cycles, they are still considered to be moth cells.  The same applies to other types of cells used in the production process of vaccines and medications, such as those from human, chicken and hamster embryonic cells.  As mentioned in our discussion of the use of HEK293 human embryonic kidney cells, according to the principles of Islamic jurisprudence, consideration will be given to the original, known state until a sufficient cause to change is established[vii].  Therefore, the Sf9 cells used in the production of the Nuvaxovid vaccine would be considered to be insect cells from the Islamic perspective. 

In general, the consumption of insect material is considered to be impermissible, and this prohibition extends to insect cells and intracellular material[viii].   Any protein isolated from an insect cell is still considered to be part of the cell and is therefore impermissible to consume.  

Although the manufacturer states that the Nuvaxovid vaccine does not contain animal derived ingredients, the active ingredient (SAR-CoV spike protein) is problematic from the Islamic perspective. Even though it is purified and isolated from other cellular material, the protein itself is a product of the cell, albeit from the “foreign” DNA introduced by the virus.   Just like any other intracellular protein, it is considered to be part of that cell and is therefore impermissible to consume. 

Its production method is comparable to the Flublok influenza vaccine, which also uses an insect cell line in its production.  Our discussion on that vaccine would apply here as well.

Based on this, the Nuvaxovid vaccine would generally be considered Islamically impermissible to use.   As with other impermissible vaccines, it would be permissible to use only in cases of necessity[ix].  Necessity would apply if:

1. There is a need to take the vaccine:  
2. A permissible alternative is not available and accessible

For example, this could apply if a person is at high risk for morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 infection but is unable to use a permissible vaccine, such as the mRNA based Pfizer and Moderna vaccines:  This could be due to lack of availability or access to a permissible vaccine, or due to an allergy to one of its components. 

And Allah Knows Best

Mufti Adil Farooki, MD

Mawlana Mateen Khan, MD

---

[i] Novavax, personal communication, February 15, 2022

[ii] Novavax, personal communication, February 15, 2022

[iii] Biomolecules 2021, 11(8), 1072

[iv] Animal Biotechnology: Models in Discovery and Translation. 2014, Pages 211-231

[v] Emerging and Reemerging Viral Pathogens. 2020 : 197–224

[vi] Image taken from https://www.science.org/content/article/will-small-long-shot-us-company-end-producing-best-coronavirus-vaccine

[vii]

القواعد الفقهية وتطبيقاتها في المذاهب الأربعة، محمد مصطفى الزحيلي، ج 1، ص 129-134

المجموعة للقواعد الفقهية، مفتي عميم الإحسان، البشرى، ص 43.

الأشباه والنظائر لابن نجيم، دار الكتب العلمية، ص 49

مُوْسُوعَة القَواعِدُ الفِقْهِيَّة، ج 9، ص 486

المتولّد من الأصل يكون بصفة الأصل

فما تولّد من أصل فهو فرع له، والفرع يأخذ صفة أصله وحكمه من الحل أو الحرمة أو الجواز وعدمه أو الملك وعدمه.

[viii]

 الفتاوى الهندية, مكتبه رشيديه , ج5,ص289

وأما الذي يعيش في البر فأنواع ثلاثة : ما ليس له دم أصلا وما ليس له دم سائل وما له دم سائل ، فما لا دم له مثل الجراد والزنبور والذباب والعنكبوت والخنفساء والعقرب والببغاء ونحوها لا يحل أكله إلا الجراد خاصة ، وكذلك ما ليس له دم سائل مثل الحية والوزغ وسام أبرص وجميع الحشرات وهو أم الأرض من الفأر والجراد والقنافذ والضب واليربوع وابن عرس ونحوها ولا خلاف في حرمة هذه الأشياء إلا في الضب فإنه حلال عند الشافعي رحمه الله تعالى.

رد المحتار, سعيد , ج6,ص304

( ولا يحل ) ( ذو ناب يصيد بنابه أو مخلب يصيد بمخلبه من سبع أو طير  ولا الحشرات ) هي صغار دواب الأرض واحدها حشرة…قال ابن عابدين: ( قوله واحدها حشرة ) بالتحريك فيهما : كالفأرة والوزغة وسام أبرص والقنفذ والحية والضفدع والزنبور والبرغوث والقمل والذباب والبعوض والقراد ، وما قيل إن الحشرات هوام الأرض كاليربوع وغيره ، ففيه أن الهامة ما تقتل من ذوات السم كالعقارب قهستاني

.

[ix] https://muslimmed.org/2019/11/13/an-islamic-basis-for-the-use-of-vaccines-with-impermissible-ingredients/