Hajj 2021, DPR: Sinovac Permission From WHO Relief

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JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Ace Hasan Syadzily, is grateful that the Sinovac vaccine produced by China has been given the green light by the World Health Organization (WHO) for emergency use, which is a prerequisite to become a COVAX provider. WHO announced this on Tuesday, June 1.

"Of course, when the WHO approved the Sinovac vaccine, it certainly relieved us all," said Ace at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday, June 2.

According to the chairman of the Golkar Party DPP, the permission from the WHO will eliminate public doubts considering that most of the COVID-19 vaccines in Indonesia use Sinovac. Including prospective pilgrims.

"Thus, we should all have no doubt that Sinovac is a vaccine that can be used in an emergency for the Indonesian people, most of whom are already using the vaccine," explained Ace Hasan.

Ace hopes that the permission from the WHO can provide certainty for prospective pilgrims who are also constrained by the use of the Sinovac vaccine to enter Saudi Arabia. Previously, Saudi Arabia had issued a list of permitted vaccines, but Sinovac was not included.

"Indeed, the vaccine obstacle is no longer a problem for us," said Ace Hasan.

It is known, the World Health Organization (WHO) has certified the vaccine made in China, namely Sinovac.

However, the Indonesian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Agus Maftuh Abegebriel, stated that until now there has been no official announcement regarding the permissible use of the Sinovac vaccine for the pilgrimage.

Saudi Arabia has not allowed entry to pilgrims who have been injected with the Sinovac vaccine because the Chinese-made brand has not yet received certification from the World Health Organization.

"It hasn't appeared on the WHO website yet. There has been no official announcement here," Agus said, Tuesday, June 2.

One of the vaccines that has received WHO certification is AstraZeneca, so Saudi Arabia allows the brand. However, more Indonesians who have received vaccinations use the Sinovac brand than AstraZeneca.