Jokowi Supports Red and White and Nusantara COVID-19 Vaccines in Memory of Today, March 12, 2021
JAKARTA - Today's memory, five years ago, March 12, 2021, President Jokowi supported the presence of the Merah Putih and Nusantara COVID-19 vaccines. The vaccine made by domestic innovators is considered by Jokowi as a form of Indonesia's independence in the field of pharmaceuticals.
Previously, Jokowi was the person who was most convinced that vaccines could end the COVID-19 pandemic. Jokowi also acted as the first Indonesian to receive the vaccine. He considered that his contribution could dispel doubts about the safety of vaccines in the community.
The transmission of the corona virus cannot be taken lightly. The presence of the virus from Wuhan is able to bring the whole world into a panic. The rapid transmission makes many countries begin to be unable to withstand the rate of transmission.
As a result, many countries have to bear huge losses. The country's economy is in ruins. Its citizens are faced with uncertainty about life. The situation is getting worse because the existing countries do not have a clear policy against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The same narrative also occurred in Indonesia. The government has made many moves. However, not many are effective. This condition makes President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) speak up. He believes that the most feasible step of resistance is with vaccines.
Jokowi also asked all Indonesians to live in peace with the corona virus. Jokowi's recent desire shows a bright spot. Many countries are racing to bring COVID-19 vaccines.
Jokowi saw it as a victory. He worked to bring vaccines from abroad. He then asked all Indonesians to be vaccinated. The government will bear all the costs of the vaccine. As a result, all Indonesians can get it for free.
Problems arise. Vaccine safety is a big question. This condition is because many vaccines are developed quickly. Jokowi also tried to put on a body.
He then became the first Indonesian to be vaccinated with a vaccine from China, Sinovac on January 13, 2021. This step made Jokowi able to dispel doubts about the safety of the vaccine.
"I will be the first to be vaccinated, I want to show that the vaccine is safe because it has gone through clinical trials not just once or twice. But we are still waiting for the results of the test, it will be the name of the emergency use permit from BPOM which is expected to come out this week or next week. After that, a day or two after that, I will be the first to be vaccinated," said Jokowi as quoted by lamandetik.com, January 7, 2021.
The vaccination program is running massively. The government plans to accelerate the vaccination program by starting to buy various COVID-19 vaccines made abroad. However, this does not mean that Jokowi ignores domestic vaccines.
President Jokowi also supported the presence of the Merah Putih and Nusantara vaccines on March 12, 2021. The Nusantara vaccine itself is a vaccine initiated by the government and various large Indonesian campuses. Different from the Nusantara vaccine which was initiated by the former Minister of Health, Terawan Agus Putranto.
Jokowi considers the presence of vaccines made by domestic innovators as a form of Indonesia's independence in the field of pharmaceuticals. Indonesia also does not have to rely on COVID-19 vaccines from abroad.
"Especially in the current pandemic situation, of course we all support research and development, both drugs and vaccines. All of them so that self-sufficiency in the pharmaceutical sector can be realized as well as to accelerate access to vaccine availability during the Covid-19 pandemic. "
"Currently, the vaccines being developed in the country are the Merah Putih vaccine and the Nusantara vaccine, which we must continue to support. But to produce safe, safe, and quality drugs and vaccines, they must also follow scientific principles, scientific principles and clinical trials must be carried out according to the applicable procedures, open, transparent and involving many experts," said Jokowi as quoted by CNBC, March 12, 2021.