Need for Muslim Scientists to Develop Vaccines to Break Away from Dependence on Western Produced Vaccines

PRESS STATEMENT

Muslim Scientist Conference 2025

Need for Muslim Scientists to Develop Vaccines to Break Away from Dependence on Western Produced Vaccines

Kuala Lumpur | 17 November 2025

The Muslim Scientist Conference 2025 stresses the urgent need for the Muslim world to build its own vaccine research, development and production capacity as a matter of scientific responsibility, public health security and ethical independence.

Delegates from across the region unanimously agreed that reliance on vaccines produced mainly by Western pharmaceutical corporations has left many Muslim-majority nations vulnerable during pandemics and global health emergencies. Delays in distribution, unequal access, high pricing and geopolitical manipulation have exposed structural weaknesses that must be urgently addressed.

The Conference emphasises that vaccine equity cannot be achieved if Muslim countries remain passive recipients rather than active producers. Building indigenous vaccine capabilities is not solely a scientific ambition it is a strategic necessity that ensures communities are protected without depending on external political or commercial interests.

Three key factors make this call urgent:

1. Public Health Security
   Many Muslim-majority nations suffered delayed protection during recent global outbreaks. Without domestic vaccine production, future pandemics will repeat the same patterns of vulnerability.
2. Scientific Sovereignty
   Relying on external producers undermines the ability of nations to determine their own health priorities, research directions and emergency responses.
3. Ethical and Economic Considerations
   The current global vaccine ecosystem is shaped by profit driven models that frequently disadvantage developing nations. A regional Muslim scientific ecosystem can lower costs, improve access and uphold ethical standards rooted in justice and human dignity.

The Muslim Scientist Conference calls for the establishment of a Regional Muslim Vaccine Research and Production Consortium, bringing together universities, research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, health ministries and international partners to coordinate expertise, share resources and build long term capacity.

Key priorities include:

● Developing vaccine platforms tailored to diseases prevalent in Muslim-majority regions

● Strengthening laboratory infrastructure, biosafety standards and clinical trial capabilities

● Training a new generation of Muslim vaccinologists and biomedical researchers

● Building manufacturing hubs that can serve regional populations during emergencies

● Ensuring that research and production are guided by ethical principles that prioritise life, access and equity

The Conference reiterates that the Muslim world has the intellectual talent, scientific history and collaborative potential to stand on its own. What is needed now is political commitment, investment and strategic coordination to reduce dependence on external entities.

Muslim scientists once led the world in medical innovation and public health advancement. Reviving this legacy is no longer optional it is an obligation to protect current and future generations.

The Muslim Scientist Conference 2025 calls on governments, institutions and scientific communities to act decisively. Independence in vaccine production is a pillar of health sovereignty and a foundation for a safer, more equitable future.

Issued by:

Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid
President MAPIM
Muslim Scientist Conference Secretariat
Kuala Lumpur
17 November 2025