Vaccine Storage Capacity Needs Expansion

As many as 16 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine ingredients from Sinovac arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, Banten, Thursday (25/3/2021).JAKARTA, KOMPAS — A total of 16 million doses of bulk Covid-19 vaccine manufactured by Sinovac, China, arrived in Indonesia on Thursday (25/3/2021). Covid-19 vaccine stocks will be further increased. Therefore, the capacity of vaccine storage in health facilities needs to be expanded for smoother vaccination.According to PT Bio Farma’s spokesman for Covid-19 vaccination, Bambang Heriyanto, the 16 million bulk vaccine doses constitute the sixth batch received by Indonesia. Thus, the bulk vaccine so far derived from Sinovac has totally reached 53.5 million doses.

He said on Thursday (25/3) that not the entire amount would produce finished vaccine doses because some part would go to waste. He estimated that of the 53.5 million bulk doses, 43 million doses would be used.

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The vaccine produced by Bio Farma since January 2021 has totaled 24 million doses, of which 17 million doses were distributed to a number of regions and obtained lot release (quality guarantee) certificates from the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM).

The challenge requiring anticipation is the capacity of vaccine storage. All health offices in provinces and regencies/cities as well as health facilities should have sufficient storage capacity. Vaccine stocks will be growing, especially starting from July 2021.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

Vaccinators prepare the Covid-19 vaccine which is given to elderly groups in West One City, Cengkareng, West Jakarta, Thursday (25/3/2021).

Based on Health Ministry data, the bulk vaccine to be sent by Sinovac until July 2021 will reach 149 million doses. This total will increase by 100 million-127 million doses in December 2021.

There’s also vaccine supply from AstraZeneca to be delivered through a multilateral cooperation totaling 11.7 million doses until May 2021. The AstraZeneca vaccine received via this channel has now reached 1.136 million doses.

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Indonesia also cooperates with AstraZeneca bilaterally for the procurement of 50 million vaccine doses, which will be sent from the third quarter of 2021 with an additional option of 50 million doses. Cooperation is also undertaken with Novavax with a supply commitment of 50 million vaccine doses to be sent in the third quarter of 2021.

According to BPOM spokesperson for Covid-19 vaccination, Lucia Rizka Andalusia, the quality, effectiveness and safety of vaccines are controlled from their production, distribution to their rollout in society. Every vaccine batch is required to obtain the BPOM’s lot release certificate although it has secured the emergency use authorization (EUA). Vaccine distribution is under control, particularly to ensure the stable vaccine storage temperature of 2-8 degrees Celsius.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

Elderly residents after receiving the first injection of the Covid-19 vaccine in West One City, Cengkareng, West Jakarta, Thursday (25/3/2021). The national vaccination program continues to be improved to target the Covid-19 vaccine to at least 70 percent of Indonesia\'s population.

The expiration period determined by the BPOM for Covid-19 vaccines lasts for six months. This term is for Sinovac, Bio Farma and AstraZeneca vaccines. “Expiration dates are fixed on the basis of vaccine stability test results,” she said.

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The Covid-19 Control Task Force reported that on 25 February, the people receiving first doses of Covid-19 vaccination totaled 6.3 million and those getting second doses of vaccination 2.9 million. The government has set the target of vaccinating 181.5 million people for one year in order to achieve herd immunity.

Deputy Health Minister Dante Saksono Harbuwono said the acceleration of vaccination should be strived for, including mass vaccination drives in regions.

Virus detection innovations

Meanwhile, equipment for the rapid and accurate detection of the Covid-19 causing virus, SARS-CoV-2, is urgently needed to cut off the chain of infection. Domestic innovations have thus appeared, including Saliva RT Lamp Covid-19, which was developed by the Stem Cell and Cancer Institute of PT Kalbe Farma.

In Vitro Diagnostics Division Research Manager, Stem Cell and Cancer Institute of PT Kalbe Farma, Akterono Dwi Budiyanti, revealed that Saliva RT Lamp (reverse transcription loop mediated isothermal amplification) Covid-19 was created to detect SARS-CoV-2 in saliva. This device has obtained the Health Ministry’s distribution license.

(This article was translated by Aris Prawira)