Ministry Of Health: Nusantara Vaccine Not Commercialized

ILLUSTRATION/ANTARA PHOTOS

JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health's COVID-19 Vaccination, dr. Siti Nadia Tarmizi emphasized that dendritic cell immunotherapy, or previously known as the Nusantara Vaccine, made by former Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto, could not be commercialized. This is because it is autologous or individual.

The statement also answered the hectic discussion about the Nusantara Vaccine. Because, recently, it was reported that Turkey bought 5.2 million doses of this vaccine product.

"Dendritic cells are autologous, meaning that they come from materials used for ourselves and for ourselves, so they cannot be used for others. So, the product can only be used for the patient himself," she said, quoted from the Ministry of Health website, Saturday, August 28.

Even so, Nadia said, Nusantara Vaccines can still be accessed by the public in the form of limited research-based services. The research was based on a memorandum of understanding or MoU between the Ministry of Health together with the Food and Drug Administration (BPOM), and the Indonesian Army last April related to 'Service-Based Research Using Dendritic Cells to Increase Immunity Against the SARS-CoV-2 Virus'.

"People who want the Nusantara Vaccine based on their personal wishes will be given an explanation regarding the benefits and side effects by the researchers. Then, if the patient agrees, the Nusantara Vaccine can only be given with the patient's consent," she said.

Previously, a number of prominent figures such as former TNI Commander Gatot Nurmantyo, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Golkar Party Aburizal Bakrie, Presidential Chief of Staff (KSP) Moeldoko had received injections of Nusantara vaccine from former Minister of Health Terawan Agus Putranto.

There were also members of the DPR who were injected with the Nusantara Vaccine, namely Sufmi Dasco Ahmad (Gerindra), Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena (Golkar), Saleh Partaonan Daulay (PAN), Adian Napitupulu (PDIP), Nihayatul Wafiroh (PKB), and Arzetty Bilbina (PKB).

As previously reported, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin said the government continues to support the development of domestically made vaccines.

"The government also continues to encourage the development of national vaccines so that they don't just rely on imported vaccines," said Vice President Ma'ruf, Saturday, August 28.

According to Ma'ruf, there are currently two types of domestically-made COVID-19 vaccines, namely the Nusantara Vaccine and the Merah Putih Vaccine. The government is now setting a target to immediately produce domestic vaccines and medicines for handling COVID-19.

"The government targets that in the future, we will be able to produce COVID-19 vaccines and other medicines for the nation's independence in the field of public health," he explained.

Ma'ruf said vaccination was one of the government's priorities in handling the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to implementing health protocols. The government wants to establish communal immunity or herd immunity by vaccinating against COVID-19 for at least 70 percent of the total population of Indonesia.