Jokowi Needs To Be About The Polemic Of Nusantara Vaccines

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) was asked to intervene in relation to the Nusantara Vaccine polemic. This pressure arises from a different attitude between the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) and the COVID-19 vaccine researcher initiated by former Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto.

This pressure came from the Chairman of the DPP Health Sector NasDem Party, Okky Asokawati, who regretted the polemic of the Nusantara Vaccine within the government. He asked President Jokowi to step in to resolve this polemic by calling related parties.

"I think the President can summon the polemic parties to immediately stop this polemic and put the matter in a clear and transparent position. Various speculations that have appeared in the public should stop immediately", said Okky in a written statement to reporters, Sunday, 18 April.

He thought that the research team and BPOM should not have argued with each other in public. Moreover, in the midst of the government's efforts to get out of the health crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Okky also hopes that all parties can refrain from giving statements that confuse the public. In fact, according to him, the situation was more complicated when several figures took action to support the Nusantara Vaccine and support for BPOM.

"In fact, this is a health matter, but it goes into supporting action. This is very naive", he said.

"Let us put the health sector in the right portion, instead of building a narrative whose emphasis is on political matters in the form of mobilizing support", he added.

The epidemiologist from Australia's Griffith University, Dicky Budiman has also conveyed the same message. He said the government should immediately take a stand regarding the Nusantara Vaccine polemic which is considered not based on scientific principles.

"I urge the government not to allow things like this even though those behind it (Nusantara Vaccine, red) are former public officials. Because if it is wrong scientifically it must be straightened out", said Dicky.

He also assessed that the Nusantara Vaccine now seems to be drawn towards politics and bureaucracy. Considering that the test was actually supported by several political figures such as former Health Minister Siti Fadillah Supari, the Golkar Party Board of Trustees Aburizal Bakrie, and members of the Indonesian House of Representatives including members of Commission IX House of Representatives.

"So if we talk now, the testing in Indonesia in my opinion is more driven towards politics. ... The direction is towards bureaucratic and political support only", he said.

In March, President Jokowi actually spoke about the development of the COVID-19 vaccine in the country, namely the Nusantara Vaccine and the Red and White Vaccine. Jokowi at that time asked all parties to support the development of the vaccine.

It's just that, he also reminded, all development of the COVID-19 vaccine in the country must also follow scientific and scientific principles. The Nusantara Vaccine and the Red and White Vaccine said Jokowi, must carry out clinical trials that are by applicable procedures, are open, transparent, and involve many experts.

"These requirements and views are important to prove that the process of making vaccines prioritizes the element of caution and can be scientifically accounted for. So that the vaccine produced is safe and effective for use", said Jokowi in a video statement uploaded on the YouTube account of the Presidential Secretariat.

Later, when all these stages are completed, the government will accelerate the production of vaccine doses. The goal is to meet domestic needs.

Previously, the Nusantara Vaccine polemic began with the results of the BPOM evaluation which considered that the stage 1 vaccine clinical trial made by former Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto had not met the rules. This has led to the absence of a green light for researchers to continue the second stage of clinical trials.

However, on Wednesday, April 14, several political figures and officials, including members of the House of Representatives, joined the second stage of clinical trials volunteers. In this stage, the vaccine volunteers will take a blood sample and process it for the next 7 days.

Responding to this, the Head of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) Penny K. Lukito said that if the Nusantara Vaccine was determined to continue the stages. This is because his party has not issued the second stage permit.

"The results of the BPOM assessment related to stage 1 of the clinical trial of the dendritic or Nusantara Vaccine is that it cannot be continued to the second stage. It is clear. What is currently happening is outside of the BPOM, it is not us to judge this case", Penny in a virtual press conference, Friday, April 16.