9.1 Million Covid-19 Vaccines Will Be Available by the End of 2020

Jakarta, InfoPublik - As many as 9.1 million vaccines will be available by the end of 2020. The Indonesian government has communicated intensely with several Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) vaccine producers in three countries.

The Health Ministry's Disease Prevention and Control Director Achmad Yurianto, Monday (10/19), said that the three countries were China, London, and Switzerland. The three countries have even sent a joint team from the relevant ministries/agencies.

Related ministries and agencies in Indonesia met several vaccine producers that have finished conducting phase three clinical trials and have been using it in their countries. Those ministries and agencies are the Ministry of Health, Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises, the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, the Ministry of Religion, National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM), the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), and Biofarma.

The government has identified and explored cooperation with four vaccine manufacturers from China and the UK, namely Sinovac, Sinopharm, CanSino, and AstraZeneca. The four producers have committed to sending the Covid-19 vaccine to Indonesia.

Sinovac has committed to providing three million ready-to-use vaccines, which will be in stages, namely 1.5 million in November and 1.5 million in December 2020.

By 2021, Sinovac is committed to gradually delivering raw materials for making vaccines. Yuri said Sinovac would provide an opportunity for Biofarma to produce vaccines in Indonesia.

Furthermore, Sinopharm committed to providing 15 million doses of vaccine to Indonesia by December 2020. The vaccine has now completed phase three clinical trials, including in China, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Turkey.

The authorities in China and the UAE have issued permits to use the vaccine. Regarding that, the Indonesian government has asked for data sharing. The data sharing is to be studied by the BPOM, MUI, and the Ministry of Religion.

CanSino has tested their vaccine in Saudi Arabia and Canada. Local authorities have issued Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to ensure product safety and are capable of providing 100 thousand doses.

Meanwhile, from the results of Indonesia's visits to the UK and Switzerland, AstraZeneca was committed to providing 100 million doses of vaccine by March 2021.

The EUA issuance from the BPOM and the halal certificate from the MUI and the Ministry of Religion indicates that the vaccines are safe to use and do not harm health. After obtaining the permit and halal certificate, the government will give the vaccine to the public.

"There are no side effects, but we still ask for data sharing from the vaccine. We have also formed a team to conduct a post-vaccination evaluation. It is a global SOP," Yuri explained.

(Photo: Ministry of Health)

Translator: Wilda Stiana