We Contacted The Ministry Of Health For Clarification Of The Viral Image Of The 'Sinovac Clinical Trial' Vaccine

Photo illustration (Source: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Twitter timeline is busy with talks about the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine. The crowd showed public skepticism about the national vaccination program. We confirm this with the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes).

Contacted via text message, Ministry of Health's COVID-19 Vaccination Spokesperson, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, emphasized that images that are viral on social media are false. He said the COVID-19 vaccine that would be circulated and injected by the public was not shaped like that.

"What I know is that the vaccine that will be used is not the packaging, yes. (The packaging) is already in the form of a vial, yes," he told VOI, Saturday, January 2.

Nadia also clarified the words "clinical trial" in a viral picture. "And there's no 'clinical trial' ... That's for yesterday's Phase 3 clinical trial."

Viral Sinovac "Clinical Trial"

The viral content was uploaded by a netizen with the account @EnggalPMT. He shared a picture showing Sinovac's packaging in white with an orange strip with the words "Only for Clinical Trial".

In that tweet @EnggalPMT questioned how could the government force vaccination of its citizens to use a vaccine that should only be for clinical trials.

Here it is clearly written "Only for clinical trial" But how come they are forced to vaccinate the public 🤦🏻‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/5IAP0cn7Sc

- Bandit Merah Putih (@EnggalPMT) January 2, 2021

@EnggalPMT's tweet was viral, with Retweet activity 1,053 times. Not a few netizens also question why the government is giving this clinical trial vaccine to the public.

"Could it be that because I already bought myself afraid of losing? I ASK LOH ... GA NUDUH MACEM2," wrote @HasmiSahar.

Could it be that because you have already bought, you are afraid of losing? I ASK LOH ... GA NUDUH MACEM2

- Hasmi Sahar (@HasmiSahar) January 2, 2021

"Wow ... So TRIAL RATS ... Hmmm ...," @ sonny140774.

"Alhamdulillah, there are also those who want to discuss this. I shook my head reading the information in the box yesterday," @ WongKit78352356.

Alhamdulillah there are also those who want to discuss this. I shook my head reading the information on the box yesterday.

- Wong Kito (@ WongKit78352356) January 2, 2021

"This is actually the case. Honestly, as the public, there is not enough information, especially regarding whether there will be side effects. Because the one who is smeared is really good at preventing and curing those who get COVID-19. I'm especially afraid of not being a guinea pig, honestly scared & terrified, "@ riewayne29 expressed concern about what she saw.

Public fear

@EnggalPMT's tweets, including the response of netizens to the tweet, show public concern about the COVID-19 vaccination. The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) is required to provide an explanation if it wants the progress of national vaccination to run smoothly.

Regarding the interest in vaccination, the Twitter account @dokterimun_id provides an overview of how the Indonesian public responds to vaccination. He quoted data from a study by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The September 2020 survey showed that 64.6 percent of the public had agreed to be injected with the vaccine. The rest, 27.6 percent are still in doubt. The survey involved approximately 115 thousand people.

"The Covid-19 vaccine already exists. Preparation has been made by the government of Pak @jokowi. But how is the readiness of our society? A study by WHO, of 115 thousand Indonesians in September 2020, shows that most are willing to be vaccinated (64.8%), but 27, 6% are still in doubt, "wrote @dokterimun_id.

The Covid-19 vaccine already exists, preparations have been made by the government of Pak @jokowi. But what about the readiness of our society? A study by WHO, of 115 thousand Indonesians in September 2020, shows that most are willing to be vaccinated (64.8%), but 27.6% are still in doubt. pic.twitter.com/rAZ37XVVH3

- Dr. dr. Stevent Sumantri, DAA, SpPD, K-AI (@dokterimun_id) January 1, 2021

@dokterimune_id added that most of the doubts and rejections arise due to questions about the safety, effectiveness and side effects of the vaccine. Not only that, the issue of price is also included in the debate.

The doctor whose real name is Stevent Sumantri encourages broad education to build public trust in vaccines. Even so, a number of netizens responded to Stevent's tweet by asking for the most clear information from the authorities.

"Wait for the authorities to declare the vaccine safe and effective," said @ leonidz78.

Other netizens, @Bonarpss do not care. He said: Those who don't want to be forced ... Those who want ... There is no more health workers to explain to those who don't want ... Please ... Gpp ... Give to those who want. Done.

Those who don't want to be forced ... Those who want ... There is no more health workers to explain to those who don't want to ... Please ... Gpp ... Give to those who want. Done.

- bon (@Bonarpss) January 2, 2021