The IndoVac Vaccine Can Be Used, Bio Farma Assesses Its Effectiveness to Prevent Omicron XBB Variants

The COVID-19 IndoVac vaccine produced by PT Bio Farma Persero was launched by President Joko Widodo in Bandung, West Java, Thursday (13/10/2022). (ANTARA/HO-Biro Press Secretariat President)

JAKARTA - PT Bio Farma (Persero) has confirmed that the IndoVac vaccine can be used to ward off the latest COVID-19 variant. However, the state-owned company is still conducting studies related to the effectiveness of the vaccine in counteracting the new Omicron XBB subvariant COVID.

Director of Transformation and Digital Bio Farma Soleh Ayubi said, after the study of the effectiveness of the vaccine was carried out, the results of the study would immediately be submitted directly to the public.

"Later, if there are study results, study results, or our research that this latest vaccine will ward off the newest variant, we will convey it to the public", Soleh told reporters at the Ministry of SOEs, Jakarta, Tuesday, November 8.

On this occasion, Soleh also mentioned the availability of the IndoVac vaccine for the community. Soleh said Bio Farma will produce 20 million doses of IndoVac vaccine per year to anticipate the surge in COVID-19 cases in the country.

"We are currently producing it, as stated at the launch of IndoVac by Pak Jokowi at that time, our target is to produce 20 million doses of domestically produced vaccines", he said.

Soleh also emphasized that IndoVac's production does not just stop this year. Soleh said the company is also ready to increase its vaccine production capacity for next year.

"Next year, if needed, we can increase it to 120 million doses", he said.

Omicron XBB Subvariant COVID Enters Indonesia

As previously reported, the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) reported a total of 12 cases of COVID-19 new subvariants Omicron XBB and XBB.1 in Indonesia.

"Of these 12 cases, two were from overseas travel, namely from Singapore, and 10 cases were local transmission", said Ministry of Health spokesman, Mohammad Syahril, at a press conference that was attended online in Jakarta, Friday, November 4.

Although the new subvariance is rapidly contagious, the Ministry of Health noted that there was no increase in severity or death like the previous COVID-19 variant infection.

"The characteristics of the XBB variant are not as severe as the previous variant. The mortality and hospitality rates are not high", he said.

Nevertheless, Syahril reminded the public to remain disciplined in implementing health protocols as part of prevention efforts.

"Health protocols are a requirement, don't slack off because this is part of the protection, prevention, and control of COVID-19", he said.