Jokowi Will Be Injected With A Vaccine After The UAE Permit From BPOM Is Issued

JAKARTA - The COVID-19 Handling Task Force (Satgas) confirmed that the administration of vaccines to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will be carried out after an emergency use authorization (UEA) from the Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) is issued.

This affirmation was conveyed by the Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Wiku Adisasmito in response to the vaccination plan that President Jokowi will carry out on January 13, even though the UAE for the Sinovac vaccine has not yet issued BPOM.

"The President will receive the vaccine if the vaccine has been obtained by the UAE from the POM," Wiku said in a press conference broadcast on the YouTube account of the Presidential Secretariat, Tuesday, January 5.

He said this decision was based on the government's principle of following applicable health procedures.

"Vaccine injection in Indonesia will be carried out when the emergency use of authorization of the vaccine is issued by the POM and everything is based on scientific data," he said.

Furthermore, he also explained the reason for the government to continue distributing the Sinovac vaccine even though it had not obtained the permit from the BPOM. He said this distribution was carried out to ensure the availability of vaccines when the vaccination program was ready to run.

"In essence, the distribution efforts that have been carried out are aimed at ensuring equal availability of vaccines with careful procedures by utilizing the available time," he said.

Meanwhile, BPOM also continues to monitor and evaluate vaccine procurement from phase one clinical trials to phase three clinics in Bandung and other countries such as Brazil and Turkey. "Then, when the third stage of the clinical trial has been completed, then an emergency use authorization (EUA) will be issued," said Wiku.

Previously reported, the government plans to carry out the first phase of the vaccination program this January. At this stage, it is planned that vaccinations will be given to health workers.

In addition, although currently the Sinovac vaccine imported from China is waiting for an emergency use authorization (UEA) from the Food and Drug Administration (BPOM), this vaccine has been distributed to various regions in Indonesia. The goal is that this vaccine can be given as soon as the license is issued.