House Of Representatives Members Injected With Nusantara Vaccine, Epidemiologists: Government Should Not Allow

Illustration (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Epidemiologist from Griffith University Australia Dicky Budiman asked the government to be firm on the polemic of Vaksin Nusantara. Moreover, this vaccine research is not guided by scientific rules.

This was conveyed to respond to the second stage clinical trial of vaccine ideas of former Minister of Health Terawan Agus Putranto conducted at Gatot Subroto Hospital Jakarta and followed by a number of members of the House of Representatives.

"I urge the government not to allow something like this even though the one behind it is a former public official. Because if it is scientifically wrong it must be straightened out," Dicky said when contacted by VOI, Wednesday, April 14.

He also assessed, Vaksin Nusantara is precisely impressed to be drawn towards politics and bureaucracy. The cause, dendritic cells contained in the vaccine is actually still in the study and preclinical tests are also continued because there is no data or conclusive results.

"So if you talk now, the test in Indonesia in my opinion is more driven towards politics. ... The direction, towards bureaucratic and political support only," he said.

Dicky also criticized the members of the House of Representatives who have received the COVID-19 vaccine as much as two doses but still want to participate in the second phase of clinical trials of Vaksin Nusantara. He said this kind of thing does not meet the ethics of research.

"I don't know where the referral came from because it didn't meet the ethics," he said.

"In addition, from the methodological side there is also no epidemiologist involved in the research. It's not okay to fail it, it can't," dicky added.

He explained that first and second phase clinical trials are clearly not allowed to be followed by those who have obtained a vaccine against the same virus. "So volunteers are not allowed. It's not in the inclusion criteria and it's misguided," he said.

Furthermore, Dicky also assessed, the unfulfillment of this scientific rule can also harm in the future because of the unsecured safety of the vaccine being tested.

"So do not be considered also at that stage there is no potential for insecurity such as infection, for example. That's something that's removed from the body put back into the body. It's amazing, it's expensive, complicated and has certain potentials like infections and stuff," he said.

Previously reported, Vice Chairman of Commission IX of the House of Representatives Melki Laka Lena said, himself and a number of board members will receive an injection of nusantara vaccine in a phase II clinical trial at the Army Central Hospital (RSPAD) Gatot Soebroto, today.

"Tomorrow (Wednesday) it was me and the members of Commission IX partly and other commissions, we were injected vaccine Nusantara vaccinated in RSPAD tomorrow morning. The leader of the House of Representatives is likely to come, I just spoke with Mr. Terawan (the pioneer of nusantara vaccine)," Melki said, Tuesday, April 13.

Melki added that nusantara vaccine research has stopped because it has not obtained a phase II clinical trial permit by the Food and Drug Administration (BPOM). According to him, nusantara vaccine researchers have adjusted the development of vaccines with recommendations from BPOM.

"And already researchers make adjustments, have already applied improvements as recorded BPOM and because BPOM only provide a kind of recommendation notes, and the research continues to run," he said.