Vaccination against Covid-19 in Indonesia awaits results of testing and validation to ascertain that the vaccine is safe and has passed clinical trials.
By
KOMPAS TEAM
·4 minutes read
BPMI SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN
The vaccine made by Sinovac is placed in a room with a temperature of 2-8 degrees Celsius at PT Bio Farma, Bandung.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Vaccination against Covid-19 in Indonesia awaits results of testing and validation to ascertain that the vaccine is safe and has passed clinical trials. Therefore, the public should maintain discipline in observing the health protocols and contact tracing should be optimally conducted.
“Vaccination is part of Covid-19 pandemic control. The government will only provide vaccines proven to be safe and have passed clinical trials according to the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO),” said Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto at a virtual press conference on “The Procurement of and Follow-up to Covid-19 Vaccine Arrival”, in Jakarta on Monday (7/12/2020).
In phases, Covid-19 vaccine procurement is being realized to meet the needs of the Indonesian population. On 6 December 2020, 1.2 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine produced by Sinovac Biotech, China, arrived in Indonesia. This is part of the first-phase procurement with a target of 3 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Vaccination is part of Covid-19 pandemic control.
However, this vaccine still has to secure the emergency use authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) based on scientific standards and relevant laws. “The vaccine’s first consignment will be allotted to healthcare workers, their assistants and supporting personnel at health facilities,” he said.
BPOM Chief Penny K. Lukito said the aspects of quality, safety and efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccine would be thoroughly controlled from the stages of vaccine arrival from its producing country, production, distribution and circulation to the stage of vaccination in society. For the determination of vaccine safety and efficacy, the public is requested to await testing results of clinical trials now underway.
Diplomacy
According to Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi, the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines from global producers is conducted through bilateral and multilateral diplomacy. Besides cooperating with Sinovac, the government is also exploring bilateral cooperation with Sinopharm, China, and AstraZeneca. Meanwhile, multilateral cooperation is sought through the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) under the Covax program.
“The sending of vaccine request forms to Covax today conforms to the time limit. In addition, several phases need to be passed until the end of 2020 and multilateral vaccines are expected to enter Indonesia in stages in 2021,” she said.
Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati added that the government had allocated a budget of Rp35.1 trillion as a reserve fund for the vaccination and Covid-19 vaccine procurement program in 2020. The government also prepared a Rp60.6 trillion budget for vaccine procurement and Covid-19 control in 2021.
“In spite of vaccine availability, we should remain alert, including the implementation of 3T (tracing, testing and treatment). For this reason, we allocate funds for the purchase of PCR and reagent machines in 2021,” said Sri Mulyani.
Director of Direct Contagious Disease Prevention and Control, Health Ministry, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, appealed that the public should continue to comply with the health protocols, known as 3M (washing hands, wearing face masks and keeping distance), and support 3T. These practices get a boost while vaccination is being prepared.
Chairman of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Studies Institute of the Indonesian Ulema Council (LPPOM MUI) Lukmanul Hakim said after the observation and audit in the production location of the Covid-19 vaccine made by Sinovac in China, its basic materials should be clarified by PT Bio Farma and Sinovac. LPPOM MUI also awaits the BPOM’s recommendation.
AFP PHOTO /INDONESIAN PRESIDENTIAL PALACE
This handout photo taken on December 6, 2020 and released by the Indonesian Presidential Palace shows the containers with the 1.2 million dosage of covid-19 vaccine made by Sinovac, on arrival from Beijing at the Jakarta International Airport in Tangerang.
Recipient priority
West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil claimed to have not yet been informed of the vaccine allotment from the central government to West Java. As planned, the vaccine is prioritized for healthcare workers, Indonesian Military and National Police personnel, and residents in West Java’s red zones.
Gadjah Mada University epidemiologist Riris Andono Ahmad said in order to reduce the risk of deaths due to Covid-19, the vaccine should be given to those with underlying conditions or comorbidity, especially diabetes. It’s because they have the risk of triple severity compared with people without comorbidities.
For the formation of community resistance and severance of the chain of Covid-19 transmission, vaccination should be massive before reinfection occurs. The vaccine’s coverage should be achieved within a short time, depending on the durability of vaccine immunity.
General Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Rosan Perkasa Roeslani said in Palembang the arrival of the Covid-19 vaccine was expected to reduce uncertainty in the pandemic period and increase public mobility. When both come into reality, the economy can regain its vigor.
