National Vaccine Stocks Are Thinning, BPOM Urged To Give Clinical Trials Of Nusantara Vaccines

Vaccine illustration (unsplash)

JAKARTA - The availability of COVID-19 vaccine stock owned by Indonesia, reportedly thinning. Vice Chairman of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia Azis Syamsuddin asked the Minister of Health (Ministry of Health) and the Food and Drug Control Agency (BPOM) to give the nusantara vaccine opportunity to cover the shortage of COVID-19 vaccine stock that is increasingly thinning.

According to Azis, currently the government needs to prioritize the production of domestic vaccines, such as nusantara vaccines so that it does not have to rely on other countries.

"Vaksin Nusantara is the work of the nation's children, and certainly can facilitate the procurement of vaccines and more in accordance with the characteristics of the people of Indonesia" said Azis in his statement, Saturday, April 10.

The chairman of the Coordinating House of Representatives for Political and Security Affairs (Korpolkam) hopes that the government through the Ministry of Health and BPOM can appreciate the hard work of domestic scientists and researchers in finding nusantara vaccines.

"Vaksin Nusantara is the finding of Indonesian scientists who are proof that the Indonesian nation is able to make its own vaccine. It's a work of devotion to the state," the Golkar politician said.

Along with this, the House of Representatives fully supports the government's efforts to accelerate vaccination within 15 months. Including by using domestically made vaccines.

"We support local vaccines such as nusantara vaccines and Red and White vaccines, to accelerate vaccination programs in the country. Although in some media mentioned the material is not entirely from local, but not 100 percent from outside. Unlike the imported vaccines that exist now," said Azis.

Furthermore, Azis, vaccination program in the country has entered the third month. Where people from various professional groups and the elderly, most have got vaccine injections.

"Only the spread of the vaccine injection site and the quantity should be further increased. So at some point, herd immunity can be formed or group immunity in the community," jelas Azis.

Previously, Head of BPOM Penny Lukito assessed, should be affirmed the criteria of a vaccine can be referred to as the work of the nation's children. Following the findings of the clinical trials phase I found components that are expensive in the manufacture of Vaccine Nusantara.