Etana Strengthens Commitment In Contagious Disease Management, Develops Pneumonia Vaccine

JAKARTA - Pneumonia is one of the main causes of pain and death in infants and children in the world. According to UNICEF 2019 data, it is estimated that 2,200 children die from pneumonia every day. In 2021, WHO reported pneumonia caused 740,180 deaths in children under the age of five.

In commemoration of World Pneumonia Day, PT Etana Biotechnologies Indonesia (Etana) emphasized its role in supporting the control of infectious diseases in Indonesia, especially pneumonia.

"Etana is committed to supporting the reduction in the incidence of pneumonia in Indonesia by developing high-quality, affordable, innovative, and halal domestic vaccines," said Director of Anti-Infectious Business Unit Etana Indra Lamora in an official statement, quoted Friday, December 6.

Indra said that one of the concrete steps taken by Etana was the development and clinical trial of the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV-13) vaccine, which was carried out in Jakarta and Bali. This vaccine is designed to fight infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, a bacteria that causes pneumonia, especially in children.

"The production of domestic PCV-13 Halal vaccines will provide solutions to vaccine needs that are safe and in accordance with religious standards, as well as reduce dependence on imported vaccines," explained Indra.

Furthermore, Etana plans to expand its contribution to controlling infectious diseases through the development of other vaccines, such as tuberculosis (TB) and HPV vaccines. With continuous innovation, Etana continues to support national health and seeks to create solutions that have a real impact on society.

"This not only makes vaccines more affordable in terms of costs, but also ensures that distribution is more evenly distributed throughout Indonesia, including remote areas where vaccines are often difficult to get," he concluded.