Ministry Of Health Brings 250 Thousand Doses Of Meningitis Vaccine In Early October, Prioritized For Umrah Pilgrims

ILLUSTRATION UNSPLASH/Mufid Majnun

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Health will bring in 250 thousand doses of Meningitis vaccine in October 2022, which is prioritized for the needs of Umrah pilgrims in the country.

"There are 250 thousand (dose), later in early October we will get approval from the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM), then it will be given," said Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, September 29.

Meanwhile, President Director of PT Bio Farma (Persero) Honesti Basyir said the provision of Meningitis vaccine stocks in the country was carried out periodically starting this month.

"Alhamdulillah, yesterday, 150 thousand doses have arrived and will come again gradually," he said.

The Meningitis vaccine that has arrived in Indonesia is currently in the process of obtaining a release permit from BPOM before being given to priority groups of Umrah pilgrims.

According to Honesti, the state-owned company engaged in the health sector is committed to bringing in a total of 600 thousand doses of Meningitis vaccine until December 2022.

All the vaccines were imported by Bio Farma from a pharmaceutical company from China through an import permit from BPOM.

"Bio Farma has not yet produced a Meningitis vaccine, but we are cooperating with foreign (imported) producers," he said.

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Honesti confirmed that recently there was a shortage of Meningitis vaccine in a number of health care facilities which resulted in complaints from a number of Umrah pilgrims in the region.

The shortage was triggered because Bio Farma and a number of partner companies abroad focused on efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, Honesti said, the scarcity was also triggered by the distribution process and administrative requirements from the relevant authorities.

"Yesterday there was a shortage because the production gap was quite long, about 5 to 6 months," he said.

Previously, the Umrah Travel Organizers (PPIU) complained about the scarcity of the Meningitis vaccine that is currently happening.

The scarcity has hampered the departure of Umrah pilgrims to the Holy Land, because the Meningitis vaccine is a mandatory requirement that must be met by travelers to Saudi Arabia.