G20 Expected Global Commitment To Create Vaccines For The Next Pandemic

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JAKARTA - Secretary of the Directorate General of Public Health of the Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, views that the G20 Presidency in Indonesia this year can be an arena for cooperation between countries to create a global vaccine.

This collaboration, according to Nadia, needs to be done to be able to prepare for the next pandemic. Given that Indonesia's presidency at this year's G20 will provide a real and comprehensive model for global recovery.

"The G20 meeting allows for faster development of the discovery of mRNA vaccines and also cheaper, safer vaccines to respond to a pandemic condition. However, currently the development of mRNA vaccines still only occurs in developed countries", said Nadia in her statement, Thursday, March 24.

Nadia underlined that every country must have equal access to vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics to prepare for the next pandemic.

In addition, best practices are urgently needed during a pandemic to strengthen collaboration networks and networks among experts, and between scientists in the public health sector.

“Therefore, it is very important to establish a regional and central manufacturing company as research collaboration. Without a strong political commitment to build a stronger global health system, countries will find it difficult to get out of difficult situations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic", she explained.

On that occasion, Nadia admitted that the Indonesian government would invite other countries to make a data integration regarding health protocols at state entrances.

This, the government will convey at one of the series of activities in the G20 Presidency in the health sector, namely the Health Working Group (HWG) meeting. The first HWG will take place in Yogyakarta from 28 to 30 March 2022.

"We need to encourage the use of one health protocol data, especially at the entrance of a country, such as various good practices that have been implemented in Indonesia and other countries. For example, in Indonesia, there is the PeduliLindungi application which is integrated with the health system", said Nadia.