After A Year's Evaluation, Ex-Menkes Terawan Claims Vaccine Archipelago Doesn't Need A Booster

Former Minister of Health (Menkes) Terawan Agus Putranto. (Between)a

JAKARTA - Former Minister of Health (Menkes) Terawan Agus Putranto claimed that the Nusantara vaccine was effective against the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.

In fact, Terawan claims that his vaccine does not need a third dose or booster injection to re-strengthen a person's immune system from the threat of Covid-19.

"What is clear from the results of the evaluation in one year, clinical trials one and two abilities to protect against COVID-19 are still high, meaning that the Nusantara vaccine does not need a booster," Terawan said after attending a Public Hearing Meeting with Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives in Jakarta, Monday. June 20.

In addition, he also claimed that Nusantara Vaccines were able to fight Omicron variants, including its variants.

"It's enough to fight Omicron, including its variants," he said, as reported by Antara.

Currently, he continued, the Nusantara Vaccine team plans to conduct phase three clinical trials while waiting for distribution permits for medical devices to make Nusantara Vaccines from the Ministry of Health.

"The distribution permit for medical devices is so that the goods to make the Nusantara Vaccine can be given to all regions, everyone can make the Nusantara vaccine," he said.

He added that the phase three clinical trial of the Nusantara Vaccine was originally to involve 1,800 subjects.

"According to the rules, there are 1,800 (subjects) and we are always prepared. Because this is a new platform, of course it requires a new mindset, new thinking," he said.

He said the Nusantara Vaccine is a dendritic cell-based vaccine. Dendritic cells are the strongest Antigen Presenting Cells (APCs) in the human body that play an important role in the immune system.

"That's why we developed a COVID-19 vaccine that uses dendritic cells," he explained.

He added, the advantages of this vaccine are that it is autologous, individual in nature, does not contain harmful additives, is safe for patients with low immunity, such as people with diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, autoimmune disease, and others.