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HOW COULD THE COVID VACCINE BE DEVELOPED SO FAST, WHEREAS IT TAKES MUCH LONGER FOR OTHER DRUGS OR VACCINES!

How could the COVID vaccine be developed so fast, whereas it takes much longer for other drugs or vaccines!

The question has been often asked; raising doubts, flaming controversies, and most importantly slowing down the vaccination drive.

Here are some scientific and other evidences that explain this unprecedented feat, as follows.

Were the COVID vaccine trials rushed ahead of time?

The vaccine trial can’t be rushed ahead because the immune system takes a certain amount of time to generate immunity. What can be rushed, however, is paperwork, manufacturing of the vaccine doses, and reduction of bureaucratic steps. These took place at the same time as the trials were underway. Normally they would wait until after completion, but the pandemic led to many steps being undertaken simultaneously.

What is emergency use authorization?

Internationally, the regulatory authorities look at two things in the clinical trials, before approval of a vaccine or drug for general use:

  1. a) safety of the participants b) data quality and integrity

In the case of the COVID-19 vaccines, the FDA didn’t give the routine approval. Instead, the three initial vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, and JJ) were granted emergency use authorization (EUA) from the FDA.

‘Emergency use’ means that you weigh the risks of the moment—the COVID crisis—against the minimal increase in knowledge you might gain by following the trials longer.

The standards are never compromised even under an emergency authorization, rather an extensive standard review process was expedited.

Did the COVID vaccine trials achieve enough strength to be put into practice?

  1. a) All medicines go through comparative trials with medicines given to half and placebo (substance with no therapeutic effect) to the other half.

In less common diseases, it takes years for enough people to be affected and included in both halves, to show the difference. Hence, trials usually require much longer periods to achieve scientific significance.

In the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no shortage of patients, which allowed the trial period to be short.

  1. b) Vaccines were approved after their efficacy (chances of not getting COVID after the vaccine) and safety (chances of harm) were found to be satisfactory.

Between different vaccines, there are differences of efficacy; however, their effectiveness of preventing serious forms of Covid, close to 100 percent, is similar.

What measures made it possible for a vaccine to be put into practice so soon?

Expedition of logistics: It was important for the governments as well as the pharmaceutical companies both to remove or reduce paperwork, manufacturing delays, and other bureaucratic hurdles that occur during research hence, extra steps were taken.

Emergency use of authorization: the regulatory authorities authorized emergency use, once safety and efficacy data was confirmed.

Availability of huge number of subjects: A huge number of people were available for inclusion in trials. Hence the strength required for achieving significance was readily available. Enrollment for trials was also faster due to the hype of the pandemic.

Prioritization: Governments and companies put resources together as a priority towards COVID-19 treatments and vaccines.

Early identification: The actual virus and its genomics, essential to initiate research was available from China as early as January 2020, to researchers around the world. This itself takes months to years.

Availability of Technology: The Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine technology, used by Pfizer/Moderna, has been in the process of development for over two decades so the research didn’t have to be started from scratch. Similarly, the University of Oxford has done extensive work on previous SARS viruses.

Divine influence:  After all, Allah’s mercy should never be forgotten due to which things could be done fast and yielded effective results.

 

Written by Professor Sohail Akhtar; Senior Consultant and HOD Pulmonology; Indus Hospital & Health Network

References:

  1. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/heres-how-it-was-possible-to-develop-covid-19-vaccines-so-quickly.
  2. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/society/2020/dec/08/how-has-a-covid-vaccine-been-developed-so-quickly
  3. https://www.immunology.org/coronavirus/connect-coronavirus-public-engagement-resources/how-covid19-vaccine-developed-fast
  4. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03626-1
  5. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/941719

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Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is the specific amount of wealth that a mature Muslim, who is Sahib-e-Nisaab, gives to the poor with the intention of Zakat, upon the completion of the Zakat year.
“And those in whose riches there is a specified right. For the one who asks and the one who is deprived.” (Qur’an 70:24-25)

The meaning of Nisab is a specific amount of four types of wealth, which if owned by a mature Muslim, Zakat will be compulsory upon. The four types of wealth are:

  • Gold (7.5 Tolas, 87.48 Grams)
  • Silver (52.5 Tolas, 312.36 Grams)
  • Business wealth (value of which equals 52.5 Tolas Silver)
  • Currency/Cash (value of which equals 52.5 Tolas Silver)

Zakat is not just a fundamental pillar of Islam. It is also a revolutionary concept with the potential to ease the suffering of millions around the world.
As Allah (SWT) tells us in the Holy Qur’an:
“And be steadfast in Salah (prayer), and give Zakah. Whatever good you send forth for yourselves, you will find it with Allah. Certainly, Allah is watchful of what you do.” (Qur’an 2:110)
It is also a right that the poor have over us.
“And those in whose riches there is a specified right. For the one who asks and the one who is deprived.” (Qur’an 70:24-25)

Zakat is 2.5% of the wealth one possesses above the Nisab.

If someone is a Muslim, non-Sayyid, and they do not possess 52.5 Tolas silver, or its value in gold, currency, business wealth, or wealth surplus to their needs, they are eligible to receive Zakat.

No, Zakat is only obligatory upon Muslims.

There are eight categories of people who are eligible to receive Zakat:
  1. The poor
  2. Needy
  3. Administrators of Zakat
  4. Those whose hearts have been recently reconciled
  5. Those who have been enslaved
  6. Those in debt
  7. In the cause of God
  8. Travellers (including refugees)
As Allah (SWT) tells us in the Holy Qur’an: The Sadaqat (prescribed alms) are (meant) only to be given to the poor, the needy, to those employed to collect them, to those whose hearts are to be won, ¹⁹in the cause of the slaves and those encumbered with debt, in the way of Allah and to a wayfarer. This is an obligation prescribed by Allah. Allah is All-Knowing, Wise.

‘Hawl’ refers to a lunar year. E.g. When a person achieves the Nisab for the first time, then from this date till the same date in the next lunar year his ‘Hawl’ is complete.

For Zakat to be due, it is a condition for one lunar year to have passed. If one lunar year hasn’t passed on someone’s wealth, then Zakat is not due.

Yes, Zakat will be due at the time of Zakat due date for this amount. Even though a year hasn’t passed on having the amount. This is known as ‘Maal-e-Mustafaad’ in Shariah terms, as in wealth received midway through a year.

The midway of a year is not taken into consideration, but the zakat due date is considered. For example, you Zakat due date is the first of Ramazan , and before the first of Ramazan, your wealth decreased to below the Nisab, but on the coming of the first of Ramazan, your wealth met the Nisab criteria, then Zakat will be due. The drop earlier in the year beneath the Nisab criteria will not be considered

Yes, you will still be required to pay Zakat of 2.5%. For the payment of Zakat, ‘intention’ or ‘Niyyat’ is mandatory and common charity/donation cannot be considered as Zakat. Therefore, you are required to calculate your Zakat on your Zakat calculation date and then the calculated amount may be given to the identified Mustahiq-e-Zakat either in full or in tranches throughout the year, with the intention of that amount being considered as Zakat only.

For every year that you owe Zakat, take 2.5% from the total wealth you had at the end of that year and pay that in Zakat. If you are not sure how much wealth you had, you must estimate it to the best of your ability. For example, it is now Ramazan 2022. You have not paid Zakat for the last 5 years. You need to work out how much wealth you owned every Ramadan for the last five years and pay 2.5% of that.

There is no Zakat on the wealth of a minor.

The best way for you to do this would be to take the jewellery to a jeweller and ask them to value just the gold and silver parts of the jewellery. The valuations they give will be the total on which you have to pay Zakat. Precious stones are not liable for Zakat.

If money for Hajj has been paid and the place has also been confirmed, then there is no Zakat on this amount. But if the Zakat date falls before payment, then there will be Zakat due on this amount.

Yes, Zakat is due on this amount. But it is up to you – you can either pay Zakat on the amount each year, or when the money is received, you can pay for the previous years.

If your friend accepted that he had the debt and did not deny it, then Zakat is due on this amount. Calculate your zakat here

Yes, you can exclude this loan, but if your wealth increased by Zil-Qadah, then Zakat will be due on the extra amount as well.

In this scenario, there is no Zakat due on the house value. However, whatever rent was received, add this to your other wealth on which Zakat is due and pay the total due Zakat amount for the Zakat year. Also, there is no Zakat on the house until you sell it. Once you have sold the house and received the money, then there will be Zakat payable on that amount, if it remains in your possession till your Zakat due date.

Every year at the time of paying Zakat, you would need to calculate the total selling price for all the goods for sale in your shop. For example, all the clothes for sale in your shop add up to a total selling value of a particular sum of money. You would add this to your other wealth when calculating your total payment.

If you haven’t received the funds, then Zakat isn’t due. But if you have received the funds, Zakat is due.

This amount is the group’s collective ownership. Thus, each participant will pay Zakat on his/her share, or permission can be given to one person who will pay Zakat from the fund on behalf of everyone.

In Shariah terms, poor and needy is classified as someone who does not have the Nisab amount in their ownership. The meaning of Nisab here is 52.5 tolas silver or the equivalent of that in cash/gold, or extra to what is needed.

Zakat cannot be given to ‘Usool’ and ‘Furuu’. ‘Usool’ is parents, grandparents and so on. ‘Furuu’ is children, grandchildren and so on. Similarly, Zakat cannot be given to husband or wife. Besides this, Zakat can be given to other relatives.

If the orphan doesn’t possess the ‘Nisab’, and he isn’t a ‘Sayyid’, then he can be given Zakat. If he possesses something of the value of nisab, he cannot be given Zakat.

Zakat can only be given in those projects wherein possession is achieved of the Zakat amount. This means the person who can claim Zakat and is eligible for Zakat payment becomes the owner of the amount. Thus, to give food, clothing, medicine etc. to a poor person from the Zakat money is permissible. And those projects wherein ownership of the Zakat money is not achieved, Zakat cannot be given for example, spending in Masajid, digging wells etc.

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