La Nyalla Encourages BPOM To Test Clinical Vaccines For Toddlers

Chairman of the DPD RI LaNyalla M Mattaliti (Photo: DPD RI Public Relations)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the DPD RI La Nyalla Mahmud Mattalitti encouraged the Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) to conduct clinical trials of the use of the COVID-19 vaccine for infants under three years of age (toddlers). Because according to him, based on the information there was no clinical trial result of the vaccine.

La Nyalla assessed that children are quite vulnerable subjects with unstable immune and immune systems. So that giving vaccines for children is a necessity.

"But it must also be considered through clinical trials so that vaccines are safe after reaching adulthood," said La Nyalla, Friday, March 26.

The former Chairman of PSSI urged the government to have the courage to conduct clinical trials. This is because the existing facilities and human resources are capable enough to do this.

"If it doesn't start, we won't dare to do clinical trials. Whereas abroad, Pfizer is conducting clinical trials of vaccines for children 11 years and under. BiNTech is also a clinical trial for a group of children 12 to 15 years. Meanwhile, AstraZeneca is for children who are younger than that, "explained La Nyalla.

The senator for the East Java electoral district said clinical trials were very important for toddlers, given that Indonesia has a very large population of children.

"Every year 4.8 million children are born. Of course these children must be protected from the dangers of COVID-19," said La Nyalla.

Previously, Lucia Rizka Andalusia, spokesperson for COVID-19 vaccination from the Food and Drug Administration (BPOM), opened the option to conduct clinical trials of vaccine use in toddlers or infants under the age of three.

According to Rizka, until now there have been no clinical trial results that can confirm that the vaccine is safe for use for toddlers.

"The latest research on toddlers has only reached phase two, but there have been no results," he said.