Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan Supports Nusantara Vaccine in Today's Memory, April 4, 2022

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan undergoes a blood-taking process for the needs of the Nusantara vaccine. (Special)

JAKARTA - Today's memory, four years ago, April 4, 2022, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan supports and is ready to be injected with the Nusantara vaccine. The domestically produced COVID-19 vaccine is considered no less effective than vaccines from other countries.

Previously, the government believed that the presence of vaccines was the only way out of COVID-19. This narrative made the government try to meet the national vaccination needs. This condition made the government support domestic vaccines.

The presence of the COVID-19 pandemic brought panic to the world. Its rapid transmission created fear everywhere. Economic growth was destroyed. The narrative was felt in Indonesia.

The government continues to do all sorts of ways to break the chain of transmission of the corona virus. However, the practice in the field is not easy. There is no step that is really effective in combating the transmission of the virus from Wuhan.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has felt it. He himself believes that the Indonesian people must make peace with COVID-19. This condition makes Jokowi see that the presence of vaccines is the only way out against the pandemic.

Jokowi promised to try to get vaccines from abroad to enter Indonesia immediately. Jokowi guarantees a free vaccination program for all Indonesians. This desire was greeted with great enthusiasm. Even though not a few people feel that the vaccines circulating are questionable in terms of safety.

Everything boils down to the relatively short research and vaccine manufacturing process. President Jokowi understands this. He tried to dispel public doubts by being the first person to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in Indonesia in January 2021.

Jokowi's action then became a marker for the vaccination program to start running in Indonesia. Jokowi hopes that vaccines will not only come from abroad. He also supports the presence of domestically produced vaccines. The Nusantara vaccine, which was initiated by the former Minister of Health, Terawan Agus Putranto, is also supported.

"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.

Support for the Nusantara vaccine is not only encouraged by Jokowi himself. The support was also given by the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. Luhut not only supports, he is also ready to be the person who is injected with the Nusantara vaccine on April 4, 2022.

Luhut's statement was revealed by visiting Terawan and undergoing a blood-taking process for vaccine needs. Luhut's presence is considered a form of support for the work of the nation's children.

Luhut believes that the Nusantara vaccine is no less effective than foreign vaccines. Luhut also asked many parties not to think negatively about the Nusantara vaccine.

"This is Doctor Terawan, I took blood for this Nusantara vaccination later. We try. Let's throw away negative thoughts about our own children. Children of the nation have many works, appreciate. Must it be from outside? No. And as is done, for example, DSA (Digital Subtraction Angiography) has 40 thousand people, how many thousand people have received help with that method," said Luhut as quoted by detik.com, April 4, 2022.