Siti Fadhilah, Gatot Nurmantyo, Until Prabowo, Supporter Of Nusantara Vaccines In The Middle Of Polemic

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto when injected with the Nusantara vaccine by Terawan Agus Putranto. (Instagram @prabowo)

JAKARTA - The former Minister of Health, Terawan Agus Putranto, has been dismissed from the membership of the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI). The dismissal was based on the decision of the Honorary Council for Medical Ethics (MKEK) at the 31st IDI Congress in Banda Aceh on March 22-25.

"Terawan has been permanently dismissed from IDI's membership. Dismissal is carried out by IDI no later than 28 working days", reads the MKEK's decision as quoted from a video uploaded by University of Indonesia Epidemiologist Pandu Riono on his Twitter account @drpriono1.

The basis for Terawan's dismissal was determined in the Medical Ethics Honorary Council (MKEK) Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) which was held on February 8. Terawan was judged to have committed serious ethical misconduct or a serious ethical violation.

One of them is related to the Nusantara vaccine to prevent COVID-19 cases. Terawan was considered by IDI to have overstepped the procedure, namely to promote to the wider community about the Nusantara vaccine before the vaccine research was completed.

Terawan has been developing the Nusantara vaccine since 2020. However, along the way, the vaccine has become a polemic and has resulted in debate. The implementation of clinical trials at the research stage is considered inappropriate.

BPOM insists that Nusantara's vaccine has not complied with procedures during a hearing with Commission IX of the House of Representatives at the Senayan Parliamentary Complex, Jakarta, Wednesday, March 14, 2021.

However, several former ministers and retired generals still support vaccination using the Nusantara vaccine. They were willing to provide blood samples to support the phase two test process before finally being given an injection of the Nusantara vaccine.

The following figures support and have received injections of the Nusantara vaccine:

1. Former TNI Commander General (Ret.) Gatot Nurmantyo

When the Nusantara vaccine was disputed because it did not comply with medical rules, Gatot Nurmantyo continued to support the research process. Gatot believes that vaccines made by the nation's children must be supported.

Gatot was vaccinated using the Nusantara vaccine at the Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital, Jakarta, Wednesday, March 14, 2021. At that time, Gatot admitted that he did not know that the Nusantara vaccine had skipped phase 2 clinical trials at the BPOM.

"I was born here, ate here, drank here, was given knowledge here, and was educated as a soldier in the motherland, then there is the work of the best Indonesian son then clinical trials why not me, whatever I do for the nation and this country", said Gatot.

2. Former Minister of Health Siti Fadhilah Supari

Just like Gatot Nurmantyo, the Minister of Health in the era of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono alias SBY decided to become a volunteer for clinical trials of Nusantara vaccines at the Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital.

He admitted that the Nusantara vaccine needed to be proven so he took part in the clinical trial and then received the Nusantara vaccine injection.

"I hear, read, and think about vaccines in the archipelago. I think researchers think logically, innovatively", said Siti in a written statement, Friday, March 16, 2021.

3. Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sufmi Dasco

Sufmi Dasco has provided a blood sample and then received an injection of the Nusantara vaccine. He fully supports the existence of the vaccine made by Terawan.

Sufmi asked not to debate the Nusantara vaccine in public. He said parties should support domestic vaccine products.

"I think the existence of the Nusantara vaccine will increase the wealth of vaccines, especially domestic production so that they can help the government to suppress the rate of Covid in our country", said Sufmi in a statement, Wednesday, March 14, 2021.

4. Board of Trustees of the Golkar Party Aburizal Bakrie

Aburizal Bakrie alias Ical and his wife, Tatty Murnitriati, received an injection of the Nusantara vaccine. Ical said, eight days before the injection, a blood sample was taken first.

He conveyed this on his Twitter account, Saturday, March 17, 2021. Ical said he fully believed in the Nusantara vaccine.

"I believe in this vaccine because I do believe in Doctor Terawan's abilities. In fact, I once owed my life, because he used his 'brainwashing' method to save me from a fatal stroke. Therefore, I used to defend Doctor Terawan with #SaveDokterTerawan", wrote Ical via his Twitter account, @aburizalbakrie.

5. Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto

Parabowo Subianto acknowledged the results of the Nusantara vaccine after vaccinating using the vaccine made by Terawan. It was Terawan who immediately injected the Nusantara vaccine as a booster into Prabowo's arm.

The vaccination activity was shown by Prabowo in his upload on his personal Instagram account, @Prabowo, Thursday, January 13, 2022. Prabowo personally said that he believed in the results of Terawan's scientific work as a doctor and scientist.

"Improve immunity and immunity with the Nusantara vaccine", Prabowo wrote in the caption for his upload.

6. Member of the DPR from the PDI-P faction Adian Napitupulu

Adian Napitupulu is a member of the DPR (House of Representatives) who has also received an injection of the Nusantara vaccine. Adian admitted that he did not feel any complaints in carrying out his routine after receiving the Nusantara vaccine injection for 53-54 days.

When the Nusantara vaccine was injected on Thursday, April 22, 2021, Adian did not question the pros and cons of the Nusantara vaccine. According to him, the method of injecting the Nusantara vaccine is suitable for him who has comorbidities and has worn five heart rings.

Apart from Adian and Dasco, a number of DPR members will also volunteer for the Nusantara vaccine clinical trial in mid-2021. Among them are Deputy Chair of Commission IX Melki Laka Lena, Member of Commission IX DPR, Saleh Partaonan Daulay, Deputy Chairperson of Commission IX DPR, Nihayatul Wafiroh, and Member of Commission X DPR, Arzetti Bilbina.