Minister of Health Targets RI to Produce 15 Independent Antigens Before 2029

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin/ANTARA/Mecca Yumna

JAKARTA - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said his party targets that 11 vaccine antigens can be researched and developed by Indonesia, so that 15 antigens can be produced independently before 2029.

Budi said Indonesia used 15 antigens, namely the virus strains used to make vaccines. Of these, 13 vaccines were created, and one of them contained several antigens at once. However, only four of the 15 can be made independently.

"We will retire in 2031. Can we make it faster? 'Vaccine development can take a long time'. I don't believe it. COVID-19, we can do it in 18 months, 20 months. Why do I always get the answer 'we need 5-10 years?'" said Budi as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, July 8.

Until now, he said, the 11 vaccines were made only through a process that was nothing more than assembling a car or engine.

"The cure is imported from China and India. After that, we pour it into a bottle and it's done," he said.

According to him, everyone can do that.

Currently, Indonesia is said by the Minister of Health Budi to not have viral factor technology such as AstraZeneca, and mRNA. So, there are two things he wants to achieve, namely conducting research and development so that vaccines can be 100 percent made in Indonesia.

Then increase domestic capacity in vaccine development from antigen or virus seeds using both technologies.

The Minister of Health targets that the independence of the vaccine will be achieved before President Prabowo Subianto completes his term. Budi also asked for help from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), and industries such as Bio Farma, as well as partners to encourage technology transfer.

"The good thing about this is not only doing research and development. You also make products. And there are people out there who are ready to buy and spend money to buy your products. So it's good, right? That's the ideal situation," said Budi.

According to him, journals and research can contribute to society if they can be implemented as products to save people, and not just as writings on paper. Budi assessed, this is a matter of pride for scientists.

"So I wait before 2031, or before 2030, before my term is over, so that the vaccine-making company can produce these 15 antigens. And approved by Mr. (Head of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency) Taruna Ikrar," said Budi.