Extending Use Of 40 Thousand Covovax Vaccines That Expired On March 31, Bengkulu Health Office Ensures It Is Safe For Residents

Head of Bengkulu Provincial Health Office, Herwan Antoni. AMONG

BENGKULU - The Bengkulu Provincial Health Office said that the more than 40.000 Covovax type of COVID-19 vaccine which had entered its expiration date on March 31, 2020, had been extended to April 31, 2020.

The extension of the expiry period, said Head of the Bengkulu Provincial Health Office, Herwan Antoni, has no effect or side effects on people who use the vaccine.

"For Bengkulu Province, the period that has expired and has been extended is only the Covovax type," said Herwan in Bengkulu, Antara, Friday, April 8.

This is because the extension of the expiration date of the vaccine is in accordance with the emergency use permit issued by the Indonesian Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) of the Ministry of Health (RI).

Herwan emphasized that the injection of the Covovax vaccine, which has an extended expiration date, had no side effects.

"It is impossible for Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) to issue a policy without an in-depth study because there has been a recommendation from the center," he said.

It is known that Bengkulu Province received as many as 70 thousand Covovax vaccines and there are still approximately 40 thousand vaccines.

The Covovax type of COVID-19 vaccine is intended for people over the age of 18 and is only allowed for the first and second doses of the vaccine.

Meanwhile, his party continues to open vaccination services in every region in Bengkulu Province so that vaccination achievements in Bengkulu Province increase and all people receive vaccines.