Minister Of Health: Vaccination For COVID-19 Starting From Healthcare, Elderly Still Waiting For BPOM Decision

JAKARTA - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said the government will gradually administer the COVID-19 vaccine to the public, starting with health workers first.

"The first stage that will be carried out is vaccination of health workers or health workers. In Indonesia there are 1.3 million people in 34 provinces. The plan will be carried out within a period of one to three months," Budi said in a written statement to reporters, Tuesday. , December 29th.

In the second phase, the vaccine will be given to public officials, which number reached 17.4 million people.

Next, the COVID-19 vaccination will be given to people with an age range over 60 years or the elderly whose number reaches 21.5 million and finally, then the vaccine will be given to the general public.

It's just that, regarding vaccines for the elderly, he said, it still needs time to put it into effect. Especially at this time, the third stage clinical trial of the COVID-19 vaccine from Sinovac in Bandung was only carried out on people aged 18-59 years.

However, he explained that currently Sinovac is also conducting clinical trials of vaccines against age groups over 60 years in Turkey and Brazil.

To further determine whether or not elderly groups are included in the priority for vaccine recipients, his party will hold further discussions with the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) to coordinate before a final decision is made.

"After there is confirmation from BPOM that this vaccine can be used by the elderly, enter (vaccination, ed) into the elderly," he said.

Budi said that there are four vaccines that will be imported to Indonesia. The four vaccines in question are Sinovac from China, Novavax from Canada, Astrazeneca from England, and Pfizer from a joint American-German company.

Some of the vaccines, he said, are likely to arrive in the second half of 2021. "That's why if we look at the stages of the elderly we put a little back because we want to make sure that all scientific data regarding the administration of vaccines to this elderly group, BPOM is sure, "he said.

Although currently the government has regulated the stages of giving vaccines, Budi emphasized that vaccinations will begin after the approval from BPOM. Moreover, President Joko Widodo has requested that vaccinations be carried out carefully and evenly.

"I believe BPOM can make independent decisions based on scientific principles," he concluded.