Jakarta, CNN Indonesia –
President Joko Widodo believes coronavirus vaccine (Covid-19) could begin to be injected into Indonesian society in early 2021. Even Jokowi demonstrated an injection gesture when explaining the vaccine.
“I believe that God willing, we will start in January …[menunjukkan gestur menyuntik] … vaccine shots. Let the situation return to normal conditions, “said Jokowi, Friday (28/8).
Jokowi said that the Covid-19 vaccine was being fought over by countries. Therefore, Jokowi has sent BUMN Minister Erick Thohir to visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and also to China to ensure the Covid-19 vaccine.
“That is so that we can get it both in the form of raw materials, as well as purchase, this is a struggle, all countries, 215 countries are fighting for vaccines, to return to normal,” Jokowi explained.
Meanwhile, Erick projects that 70 percent of Indonesia’s population will get vaccines en masse by 2021. That means, as many as 161 million people are targeted to receive vaccines, assuming a population of 230 million.
“We, with a population of 230 million, have just focused on getting 70 percent,” said Erick, Thursday (3/9).
Currently, the government continues to develop vaccines both independently and in collaboration with foreign parties. For example, PT Bio Farma (Persero) is currently conducting a trial for the third phase of the covid-19 vaccine. The state-owned health company is working with a Chinese producer, Sinovac, in developing vaccines.
Then, PT Kimia Farma (Persero) and PT Indo Farma (Persero) with a health technology company from the United Arab Emirates, G42. Independently, Indonesia is also developing the Red and White vaccine by LBME Eijkman.
However, Jokowi’s hopes of giving a vaccine to Indonesia in 2021 are not in line with the opinion of the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO says it cannot expect a Covid-19 vaccination until mid-2021.
“We know at least six to nine (vaccine candidates) who have come a long way. (However) given the realistic timelines, we can’t really hope to be able to vaccinate widely until the middle of next year,” said WHO spokeswoman Margaret. Harris in a virtual press conference in Geneva, Friday (4/9) as reported AFP.
WHO says that there are currently 34 vaccine candidates worldwide in various stages of clinical trials in humans. In addition, there are 142 vaccine candidates that are still in preclinical evaluation.
Meanwhile, Soumya Swaminathan, WHO’s chief scientist, said that his party is working with experts from various countries. The US BPOM, the FDA, are among those collaborated to clarify the criteria for a safe and effective vaccine candidate.
“We want to see a vaccine that is at least 50 percent effective, better if it is higher,” he said.
Under normal procedures, the testing phase of a vaccine can take months to years to verify until a vaccine candidate is declared safe and effective.
This means that the vaccine candidate must go through a long process and procedure until it is declared safe and effective for treating a disease. However, the rapid increase in Covid-19 cases has prompted the need for a vaccine as soon as possible.
(ctr/osc)
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