Ministry Of Health Starts Distributing Sinovac Vaccine As A Booster Dose

Illustration-Unsplash/Markus Winkler

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Health has begun to gradually distribute the allocation of Sinovac vaccine for booster vaccination programs or booster doses to all regions in response to the decision of the Supreme Court (MA).

"Currently, we have started distributing the Sinovac vaccine for the booster in stages in the regions," said the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Dr. Siti Nadia Tarmizi, who was confirmed via text message in Jakarta, Antara, Tuesday, April 26.

He said the allocation of the Sinovac booster vaccine was adjusted to the supply of all vaccine needs at PT Bio Farma's production facilities, a total of 5 to 7 million doses.

"The allocation to all regions depends on the needs of the participants there," he said.

Previously, the Supreme Court won the Indonesian Muslim Consumer Foundation (YKMI) regarding the judicial review of Article 2 of the Presidential Regulation (Perpres) RI Number 99 of 2020 concerning Vaccine Procurement and Vaccination Implementation in the Context of Combating the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The Supreme Court's decision on the COVID-19 vaccine urges the government to provide halal vaccines for Muslims. The Sinovac vaccine is one type of vaccine in Indonesia that already has a halal fatwa from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Number 2 of 2021.

Then for the Sinopharm vaccine mutual cooperation vaccination mechanism, a recommendation for a halal fatwa was also given with the MUI fatwa Number 9 of 2022.

So far, the government has managed to provide six vaccine regimens that have obtained emergency use permits from BPOM, namely Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna, Janssen, and Sinopharm.

The vaccine regimens used in Indonesia are obtained through various schemes, either through direct purchases, bilateral and multilateral cooperation, grant schemes, and the COVAX Facility.

The Ministry of Health also prioritizes the allocation of the Sinovac vaccine to be given to the COVID-19 vaccination program specifically for children aged 6-11 years, and to complete the second dose of vaccination aged 12 years and over.

The decision was stated in the Circular Letter (SE) of the Ministry of Health Number SR02.06/II/266/2022 regarding the Follow-up for the Implementation of the Covid-19 Vaccination for Children aged 6-11 Years and the Use of the Sinovac Vaccine.

He said the use of the Sinovac vaccine for boosters would certainly reduce the allocation for child vaccination needs.

"Surely the allocation will decrease but we can seek additional fulfillment through COVAX or other bilaterals," said Siti Nadia Tarmizi.