Get Ready, Early 2021 Indofarma Distributes COVID-19 Vaccine

Illustrated. (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - PT Indofarma Tbk will become a distributor of the corona virus vaccine or COVID-19 which will be produced by the holding company of BUMN Pharmacy, PT Bio Farma (Persero), which is working with Sinovac Biotech Ltd to develop a virus vaccine that has spread throughout the world. .

President Director of Indofarma, Arief Pramuhanto, said that the plan was for the third phase of clinical trials to be carried out by the holding of the BUMN Pharmacy holding in July 2020. Arief said that Indofarma would later cooperate with PT Kimia Farma Tbk in distributing vaccines.

"Distribution will be carried out after Bio Farma has entered the mass production stage of the COVID-19 vaccine, which is estimated to be in March or May 2021," Arief told VOI, Tuesday, July 21.

And if production is realized, then distribution will begin in the same month. Arief said that the distribution distribution between Indofarma and Kimia Farma was carried out with a portion size of 50:50.

"The distribution area is throughout Indonesia," he said.

Special Staff of the Ministry of BUMN, Arya Sinulingga, said that Bio Farma was indeed entrusted with conducting clinical trials of the Sinovac vaccine by international pharmaceutical institutions. From the trials it will be seen whether the vaccine is compatible with COVID-19 currently circulating in Indonesia.

"Bio Farma is indeed a well-known position in the international community and is considered capable of conducting clinical trials and preparations. Don't be surprised if Bio Farma is trusted by several countries to be included," said Arya.

The Sinovac vaccine will be tested by Bio Farma in collaboration with Padjadjaran University and the Health Research and Development Agency (Balitbangkes). These three institutions will prepare for the phase three clinical trial.

Bio Farma will also coordinate with the Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) to distribute the vaccine. The plan is that the vaccine from Sinovac will receive a distribution permit in Indonesia in early 2021.