State-owned pharmaceutical company PT Bio Farma has verified that the COVID-19 vaccine will be priced at around Rp 200,000(US$1357) per dose when it becomes available.
Bio Farma president director Honesti Basyir said the cost was based upon a recent email from Sinovac Biotech, the Chinese COVID-19 prospect vaccine producer.
The vaccine is presently in late-stage trials in Indonesia.
” Bio Farma is devoted to supporting the federal government’s efforts to offer an inexpensive COVID-19 vaccine to protect Indonesians,” Honesti said in a statement on Tuesday.
He went on to say that Sinovac had rejected reports that Brazil would get a similar vaccine at a much lower cost of $1.96 per dose.
” The $1.96 cost per dosage rate is incorrect, due to the fact that the shipping cost alone is at least $2 per dose. Sinovac is currently seeking the origins of this report,” he included.
Honesti stated the choice to set the potential vaccine cost was based upon the quantity of financial investment took into phase 3 of the clinical trials and the efficacy test.
On The Other Hand, the Food and Drug Keeping Track Of Company (BPOM) plans to check out Sinovac’s facilities in Beijing to ensure the advancement and production of the vaccine is based upon great manufacturing practice (GMP).
The Indonesian Ulema Council ' s Assessment Institute for Foods, Drugs and Cosmetics (LPPOM MUI) likewise prepares to examine the halal requirement of the vaccine.
As of the 2nd week of this month in Bandung, West Java, the third scientific stage of the trial included 843 volunteers receiving a second injection of the vaccine, while 449 others remained in a monitoring phase for the 2nd injection.
At least 1,620 volunteers are required for the medical trial. Each volunteer will receive two vaccine injections within six months.
The Indonesian scientific trial group for the Sinovac vaccine stated that there had actually not been any adverse effects after volunteers received the shots.
In the meantime, China stepped up its efforts in “vaccine diplomacy” over the weekend, with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi saying that joint vaccine programs between Indonesian and China might be the focus of brand-new ties between the 2 nations.
Speaking after a conference with going to Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Financial Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan, Wang said Indonesia could be a vaccine production center for Southeast Asia in the future.
” China is willing to work with Indonesia on vaccine research, production and distribution, and support exchanges of pertinent departments and medical institutes to assist ensure access to inexpensive vaccines across the region and around the world,” Wang said.
The Chinese Center for Illness Control and Avoidance (CDC) stated COVID-19 vaccines being developed in China may be prepared for use by the general public as early as November.
China has four possible COVID-19 vaccines in the final stages of clinical trials. At least three of those have already been provided to essential workers under an emergency situation usage program introduced in July. (adi/ami)
Editor’s note: This article belongs to a public project by the COVID-19 job force to raise people’s awareness about the pandemic.
