KOMPAS.com – Some time it was reported by one volunteer testing corona vaccine Sinovac infected Covid-19.
This news then shocked the public and caused doubts about the effectiveness of the vaccine developed by the Chinese company.
Responding to this, Indonesian Molecular Biologist Ahmad Utomo revealed that this event did not mean that the vaccine failed to protect against infection. corona virus.
“This is not a failure of protection, because we are still conducting clinical trials. This is because clinical trials will continue until December 2020 or January 2021,” said Ahmad to Kompas.com, Sunday (13/9/2020).
However, the thing that needs to be emphasized in this case, said Ahmad, is the volunteer status of the patient.
Also read: Not only in Indonesia, the Corona Sinovac vaccine is also clinically tested in Bangladesh and Brazil
Because, according to him, this status does not need to be disclosed, but indeed his status as a Covid-19 survivor needs to be published.
The purpose, for needs tracing or search contacts as an effort to control potential transmission of the virus.
Explain the case Corona vaccine volunteers are infected with Covid-19 Ahmad conveyed it in the video he uploaded on the YouTube site.
However, related to community claims that vaksin Sinovac who were being tested failed, Ahmad suspected that there was an understanding that was not conveyed.
The clinical trial of the corona vaccine made by Sinovac, the biotechnology company from China, is currently in phase 3 trials conducted by Padjajaran University, Bandung.
“In the community’s imagination, as many as 1,600 volunteers, all of whom are given vaccines. If you think so, then it is only natural that they fail, really, they are still vaccinated against Covid-19,” said Ahmad.
Though, it’s important to understand that deep Sinovac vaccine clinical trialNot all of the thousands of volunteers who are sampled will be injected with the vaccine.
–
Group placebo and vaccines
Ahmad explained that of the 1,600 people, divided into two groups of volunteers, one group was given the Sinovac vaccine, while the second group was only given a placebo.
What the public needs to know is that, said Ahmad, clinical trials to see the effectiveness of vaccines are carried out randomly or randomly. “double blind“.
“It means, both those who were vaccinated and those who gave vaccinations, both did not know whether what was injected was a vaccine or a placebo,” said Ahmad.
Likewise in the case of a vaccine volunteer infected with Covid-19, he also did not know whether he got the corona virus vaccine or just a placebo.
“So this is not proof that the vaccine has failed. We will see around December 2020 or January 2021, data will be opened. Then analyzed and compared,” said Ahmad.
Also read: The Oxford-AstraZeneca Corona Vaccine, This Country Is Ready to Continue Trials
The data will show a comparison of the groups given the vaccine and those given the placebo, which one is more infected with Covid-19.
Ideal comparison of vaccine effectiveness
Ahmad further explained that later in late 2020 or early 2021, clinical trial data will show little comparison of the two groups of volunteers who have been given the vaccine and placebo.
Ahmad revealed that if the results show that more volunteers who are vaccinated against Covid-19, then ethically the clinical trial must be stopped.
“But if, for example, Covid-19 does not occur together until December or January, then that is considered a failure,” said Ahmad.
Why could this happen, Ahmad explained that the West Java government was very aggressive in campaigning for 3T (test, tracing, treatment) and 3M (wearing masks, washing hands and keeping distance).
Also read: This Corona Vaccine from the Chinese Pharmaceutical Giant Sets the Most Expensive Price in the World
As a result, it is possible that the behavior and implementation of these health protocols can prevent people from becoming infected.
“But actually the target is in July. We don’t have December or January coronavirus case shown to volunteers, the clinical trial will be extended until July, “added Ahmad.
Ideally, the Sinovac vaccine clinical trial is effective if there are 0 cases of Covid-19 per 800 people (volunteers are injected with the vaccine). And 80 cases of Covid-19 per 800 people (placebo injected).
“This means that the corona vaccine provides 100 percent protection against infection with the new corona virus, SARS-CoV-2,” Ahmad explained.
– .