Indonesian Police Watch Leaks The Contents Of The Letter Of The Head Of The Gatot Subroto Army Hospital To The Chief Of Staff Of The Army Regarding The Nusantara Vaccine

Illustration (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian Police Watch (IPW) Presidium, Neta S Pane, said that the Head of the Army Hospital Gatot Subroto A. Budi Sulistya sent a letter to the Chief of Staff of the Army (KSAD) General Andika Perkasa.

This letter is related to the polemic about the development of the Nusantara Vaccine which was held at the hospital.

"The information obtained by the IPW is that the letter from the Head of the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital (RSPAD) addressed to the Army Chief of Staff contains four points", said Neta in a written statement quoted on Friday, April 16.

He then explained that the first point of this letter contained a clarification on the issue of vaccination which was called the idea of the former Minister of Health Terawan Agus Putranto.

As Head of the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital, Budi emphasized that the second phase of the Nusantara Vaccine clinical trial is still in the preparation process.

"The second phase of research is in the process of preparation. Ethical clearance is in the process of being discussed at the Ethics Committee of the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital", said Neta referring to the letter.

In the first point, it was also mentioned that the RSPAD had asked the vaccine research team to follow the research stages and adhere to the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study for the sake of validity.

The next point contains an explanation of the number of public officials including a number of members of the Indonesian Parliament and the public who believe that the Nusantara Vaccine is good. In fact, the vaccine is still in the research process.

Third, continued Neta, Budi straightened out that a number of public officials, members of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), and the public who came to the RSPAD had just undergone the process of taking blood samples and not giving the Nusantara Vaccine. The process from sample removal to the administration of dendritic cells takes an average of 7 to 8 days.

"Samples which taken and do not meet the inclusion criteria, we emphasize to researchers not to be included in the research sample", he said.

Next, on the last point, the Head of the Army Hospital asked for further instructions from the Army Chief of Staff Andika Perkasa.

The existence of this letter made the IPW ask Andika to take a firm stance regarding the Nusantara Vaccine which was tested in the National Army (TNI AD) environment. This is important so that there is no commotion and unrest in the community.

"In order not to cause prolonged polemics that could disturb the public, the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army (KSAD), General Andika Perkasa, needs to take a stance regarding the process of making Nusantara Vaccines at the Jakarta Army Hospital", he said.

The Nusantara Vaccine is getting more polemic after a number of political figures and officials joined the volunteer phase II clinical trial at the Gatot Soebroto Central Army Hospital (RSPAD), Jakarta, Wednesday, April 15. In this stage, the vaccine volunteers will take a blood sample and process it for 7 days to then be injected back into the body.

Even though the vaccine is the idea of former Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto, is still in the midst of pros and cons because it has not received the approval of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) to proceed.