JAKARTA - Commission IX of the DPR has asked the authorities to immediately dispose of and destroy the COVID-19 vaccine that has expired and not to extend the expiration date on the vaccine.
Initially, during a hearing with Commission IX of the DPR RI, the Head of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) Penny K. Lukito confirmed that the extension of the shelf life or shelf life of expired COVID-19 vaccines had met the stability test requirements.
This stability test is carried out by the manufacturer of an emergency use permit for certain vaccines. After the stability test data is declared sufficient, the BPOM determines the extension of the vaccine shelf life.
"In essence, the extension of the shelf life has guarantees related to the quality and safety and efficacy aspects. BPOM also routinely provides assistance and continuous inspection of the quality of the COVID-19 vaccine," said Penny at the DPR building, Wednesday, April 6.
Responding to this, Member of Commission IX DPR Irma Suryani views that extending the expiration date of the vaccine, even though it has been guaranteed by BPOM, will still cause chaos in the community.
"It will be difficult to convey to the public that the expiration date (vaccine) can still be consumed if it is stored properly. That is a dangerous statement. In fact, we are saving humans, not trial and error," said Irma.
Therefore, Irma asked BPOM to no longer extend the shelf life and expiration date of the COVID-19 vaccine. Considering that currently domestic vaccine production, both Bio Farma and private pharmaceutical companies, have started producing vaccines, one of which is the Zifivax vaccine.
"It's better if the expired vaccine doesn't need to be used again and it's dangerous to use. BPOM said that there are vaccines that have received permission to be predicted. Why don't the expired vaccines that make noise just throw them away? We don't have to use them. Right, there are already domestic companies , said Irma.
Again, Penny emphasized that the decision to use vaccines with extended shelf-life and expiration dates rests with the Ministry of Health.
"The function of the POM as an authority is limited to permitting based on the scientific data we have received. Whether it will be used later, that is the decision of the Ministry of Health," he added.
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