Indonesia Delays AstraZeneca, Everything We Know So Far About The UK Vaccine And Its Problems

AstraZeneca Vaccine (Source: Commons Wikimedia)

JAKARTA - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin decided to postpone the use of the COVID-19 vaccine, AstraZeneca. The decision was made following a number of cases of health problems arising from the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine. The government will wait for the results of the World Health Organization (WHO) research.

Budi Gunadi said that currently WHO is examining the side effects of blood clots in the use of vaccines made in Oxford, as reported by many countries. The examination was carried out by WHO together with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (UK) and the European Medical Authority.

"Until now, WHO is still researching. We also received from the MHRA, the BPOM of the UK. And the EMA, the European Medical Authority, they have not confirmed whether there is a correlation due to vaccines or not," said Budi Gunadi in a working meeting at Commission IX DPR. , Jakarta, Monday 15 March.

In addition to WHO research, the government is also still waiting for the halal fatwa of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) for the AstraZeneca vaccine. This is because many parties have questioned the halal use of the vaccine, especially the DPR.

"The MUI will have a meeting tomorrow or the day after, so that the fatwa can be issued by the MUI in the next two days," said Budi Gunadi.

It is known that Indonesia will receive 11,704,800 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine through the multilateral cooperation of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) COVAX Facility with the World Health Organization (WHO). Currently, 1,113,600 doses have arrived in the country on Monday, March 8.

The rest is expected to arrive in May 2021. However, it was reported that eight European countries had temporarily stopped injecting the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, following reports of patient blood clots after being vaccinated.

Difference between AstraZeneca and Sinovac

Apart from AstraZeneca, Indonesia also imported the Sinovac vaccine. The Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) has issued emergency clearance for vaccines from China. Sinovac came first with a total of up to 40 million doses. Even with AstraZeneca, whose emergency use permit has also been approved.

If AstraZeneca is from England, Sinovac is produced by China. The original name for the Sinovac vaccine is CoronaVac. The two have some things in common. For example, both can be stored at temperatures that are not so low with a range of 2-9 degrees Celsius. This is important to facilitate the storage and distribution process.

Even the difference between Sinovac and AstraZeneca is on the point of efficacy or efficacy. Sinovac was more potent. According to BPOM, the efficacy of Sinovac reaches 65.3 percent. Meanwhile, the efficacy rate of AstraZeneca stands at 62.1 percent. Others, about the price. AstraZeneca is cheaper with a range of IDR 43 thousand to IDR 58 thousand. Meanwhile, Sinovac costs Rp. 200 thousand per dose.

Many countries are suspending AstraZeneca

Prior to Indonesia, a number of countries had postponed the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine. These countries report blood clots from those who receive the vaccine. Finally, the Netherlands, which immediately stopped using AstraZeneca until at least March 29.

This step was taken in anticipation of reports from two other European countries, Ireland, Denmark and Norway that announced cases of blood clots. The Dutch Minister of Health, Hugo de Jonge, explained that there had never been such a case in the Netherlands.

The Netherlands has not even found evidence of a direct link between vaccines and blood clots as found in three other European countries. "We cannot leave doubts about the vaccine," said de Jonge.

"We have to make sure that everything is in line, so it is wise enough to stop (using the vaccine) at this time," added de Jonge.

Sunday, March 14th, AstraZeneca has clarified. They said the results of the internal examination showed no evidence of an increased risk of blood clots. This was obtained from AstraZeneca's review of more than 17 million people who were vaccinated in the UK and the European Union.

“A careful review of all available safety data on more than 17 million people, who were vaccinated in the EU and UK with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine showed no evidence of an increased risk of pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis or thrombocytopenia, in any particular age, group, gender, group or in a particular country, "the company said in a statement to Reuters.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said there was no indication that the incident was caused by vaccination. The EMA statement is the same as the view echoed by WHO last week. According to AstraZeneca, so far 15 deep vein thrombosis events and 22 pulmonary embolism events have been reported, which are similar to other licensed COVID-19 vaccines.

In addition, AstraZeneca said additional testing had been and is being carried out by companies and European Union health authorities and that no retests had shown any concern. The monthly security report will be published on the EMA website in the following week.

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