WHO Allows Sinovac, Minister Of Health Budi: People Don't Choose Vaccines

Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin/Antara

JAKARTA - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said the validation of the emergency use (Emergency Use) of the Sinovac vaccine from the World Health Organization (WHO) was a sign that the government's procurement of vaccines in Indonesia had met world safety standards.

"We as the Indonesian government welcome the validation of the emergency use of the Sinovac vaccine," said Budi Gunadi in a written statement received in Jakarta, reported by Antara, Wednesday, June 2.

Budi said the WHO had validated the emergency use through a press release on Tuesday, June 1. This confirms that the government of the Republic of Indonesia only provides vaccines that are safe, tested for quality, and have proven efficacy.

According to Budi, this validation indicates that the vaccine that is available and provided by the government is the best vaccine so that people no longer need to worry about the various types of vaccines that are currently available, because all types of vaccines are good for preventing COVID-19 transmission and have gone through quality, safety, and efficacy.

"People are asked not to be picky about vaccines. The vaccine given by the government is the best vaccine and has been tested for safety," he said.

With the issuance of the EUL, said Budi, the government believes that WHO ensures that the Sinovac vaccine meets international standards for safety, efficacy and manufacture.

In addition, its quality has been tested because it has passed the third stage of clinical trials and is used in more than 20 countries in the world and has efficacious or has a protective and life-saving effect.

Budi said the research results also proved that the COVID-19 vaccine was able to prevent death and prevent severe illness that led to emergency treatment.

As the Director General of WHO has also stated that the addition of Sinovac to the EUL will further open up equal access to vaccines. Sinovac vaccines will also be obtained through the Covax Facility, a collaboration between countries that ensures equal access to vaccines.

Besides Sinovac, Budi said, WHO has also published an Emergency Use List (EUL) for AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna and Sinopharm vaccines.