DPR Cecar Government: Why Must COVID-19 Vaccine Be 'Stepdaughter'?

The atmosphere of the DPR RI Commission IX session with the Government (Photo: Capture Youtube Screenshot of DPR RI)

JAKARTA - Commission IX of the Indonesian Parliament is threatening the government in a working meeting today. The DPR considers government agencies such as the Ministry of Health, BPOM and Kemenristek / National Agency for Research and Technology to treat the two types of domestic vaccines differently.

The two vaccines are the Red and White vaccine developed by the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology and the Nusantara vaccine developed by former Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto.

Dewi Asmara, a member of Commission IX from the Golkar Party faction, questioned the government, which seemed slow in responding to the need for the development of the Nusantara vaccine.

Currently, Terawan is still waiting for the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) to grant permission for the implementation of the Phase II clinical trial for the Nusantara vaccine. Meanwhile, the Red and White vaccine has received a vaccine development schedule until 2022.

"In the presentation of three government agencies, if earlier (the Nusantara vaccine) was not questioned, it seemed as if they had avoided it. It is clear that the agenda is the Indonesian vaccine, but what was explained by the Red and White vaccine is also important, but (the Red and White vaccine) does not have a problem," said Dewi at the DPR RI Building, Wednesday, March 10.

In fact, Dewi said that the Nusantara vaccine was included in the list of international vaccine development established by WHO. In this case, the government has also budgeted IDR 29 billion for the development of the Nusantara vaccine under the auspices of the Ministry of Health's Balitbangkes.

Dewi wonders why the government is too focused on presenting foreign-made vaccines. In fact, imported vaccines have a fairly complicated distribution system.

"For now, we agree that overseas (will arrive) quickly. But, we also have to accelerate the Red and White and Nusantara vaccines. What's going on here?" cecar Dewi.

"The change of the Minister (of Health) does not mean that the past becomes the past, the current one. That is not the work of our country. The leadership of Commission IX has also changed. It does not mean that the previous program did not work," he continued.

Responding to this, Deputy Health Minister Dante Saksono said that the approval of the permit to implement the phase II clinical trial of the Nusantara vaccine could be done if BPOM had evaluated the phase I clinical trial.

"Whether this research can be continued in phase two, of course it can be continued if the phase one evaluation has been approved by BPOM. So, we can do a standing point for legal financing and independent credibility. We will continue to guard and support this legally and well. , "he replied.