Jokowi: Red And White Vaccine Ready For Production In The Middle Of 2021

President Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace Complex (Photo: Cabinet Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said that the Indonesian-made vaccine (the Red and White vaccine) is already in the stages of producing vaccine seeds. He believes the vaccine can be clinically tested in early 2021 and after that it can be mass produced immediately.

"Currently the red and white vaccine is in the process of making vaccine seeds or seed vaccines and the process is already 30-40 percent," said Jokowi in his briefing to 34 Governors throughout Indonesia facing the COVID-19 pandemic and National Economic Recovery (PEN) which was carried out online, Tuesday , September 1st.

The vaccine, he said, was carried out by a national consortium involving the Eikjman Institute for Molecular Biology along with a number of universities and research institutes.

With this condition, Jokowi believes that the clinical trial of the COVID-19 vaccine will be completed in early 2021. "And God willing, it will be ready for production in mid-2021," he said.

While waiting for the complete vaccine, said Jokowi, Indonesia has secured commitments for vaccine cooperation from a number of countries. The total vaccine collected as a result of this commitment reaches 20 million to 30 million doses of vaccine for the beginning of 2021 and at the end of the year the number will increase to 290 million doses.

"For the short term we are competing with other countries to get access to vaccines as soon as possible and thank God, we have committed 20-30 million vaccines by the end of 2020 in the form of finished goods. Then until the end of 2021 we have also secured a commitment of 290 million vaccines. , "explained the former governor of DKI Jakarta.

Furthermore, in front of the governors from all provinces in Indonesia, Jokowi asked them to continue to work to prevent the massive spread of COVID-19.

He asked that before vaccines were carried out massively and effectively, governors in Indonesia were expected to be able to control them by determining when to gas and brake according to existing data.

"Because if we can't suppress the curve quickly, including the mortality rate or fatality rate, we can't increase it drastically, then the situation of uncertainty will continue and will make people feel insecure and will cause the world to be overwhelmed. businesses don't want to move, can't move, "he said.

Apart from being able to determine when to gas and brake their area, the Governors were also asked to carry out repeated health protocol campaigns, especially campaigns to use masks.

"This key before vaccines are found is the use of masks which is important. Of course it would be even better if field monitoring was carried out," he said, adding that governors must start considering imposing sanctions on violators of health protocols in the midst of COVID-19 so that the public will have a deterrent effect.

"The masks distribution campaign must be massive to reach the villages. Involve community leaders, PKK, RT and RW. I think you understand this," he concluded.