Even Though A Vaccine Will Be Available In Early 2021, Erick Thohir Reminds The Public To Adhere To Health Protocols

Minister of BUMN, Erick Thohir. (Photo: Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Policy Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery Erick Thohir reminded the public to adhere to health protocols even though the COVID-19 vaccine, the result of cooperation between PT Bio Farma and the biopharmaceutical company Sinovac, China, will be circulating in early 2021.

"We will ensure that there will be a vaccine, but I ask the public to be disciplined so that we can continue to anticipate (the occurrence of COVID-19 transmission, red)," said Erick in a press conference broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat YouTube account, Tuesday, July 21.

The public, he continued, still have to wear masks, keep their distance, wash their hands, and apply other health protocols to prevent transmission of COVID-19.

Moreover, although the rate of cure continues to increase, the number of additional positive cases of COVID-19 continues to occur in the community.

"Don't also assume that when there is a positive atmosphere, whether vaccines or cures increase, it's time for us to live normally as before. No," said the BUMN Minister.

Previously, Indonesia will soon carry out the third phase of clinical trials on the vaccine produced by PT Bio Farma. In its implementation, this state-owned company is working with Padjajaran University and the Health Research and Development Agency (Balitbangkes) and will be injected into 1,620 volunteers.

According to the President Director of PT Bio Farma, Honesti Basyir, said the company will prepare vaccine production of up to 100 to 250 million doses per year in the future.

"But for the first phase, in accordance with the target of the first clinical trial in January and the release permit, we are targeting completion of around 40 million doses per year," he said at the same conference.

To speed up the distribution permit process, the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) will accompany the phase three clinical trial process. "We will accompany the clinical trial process so that there is an acceleration in granting distribution permits," said the Head of BPOM Penny Lukito.