Jakarta – Collaborating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto has actually described a target for Indonesia to receive 290 million COVID-19 vaccines in 2021, of which 30 million are targeted for this year.
” The government has actually conducted several activities to obtain vaccines. This is also the result of diplomacy conducted by the foreign affairs minister, under which Sinovac is preparing 30 million early-stage vaccines and 290 million for next year,” Hartarto mentioned in Jakarta on Thursday.
Minister Airlangga believes the target will be attained through 10 sources including Sinovac, G-42/ Wuhan Institute Biological Products/ Sinopharm, Astra Zaneca, GAVI/ CEPI, and CanSino Biological Inc/ Beijing Institute Innovation.
BioNTech/ Fosun Pharma/ Pfizer, Modena/ NIAID (National Institute of Allergic Reaction and Infection Illness, Acturus Therapies/ Duke-NUS, Genexine Korea, and Red and White Vaccine will also assist in realization of the target.
” The Astra Zeneca’s stage III clinical trial for COVID-19 is temporarily suspended. CanSino, through Biofarma and Kalbefarma, wants to supply 20 million to 30 million vaccines,” Minister Airlangga specified.
The minister kept in mind that just one injection is needed for the COVID-19 vaccine, sourced from CanSino, while those procured from others require approximately 2 shots.
On the other hand, he stressed that if development of the vaccine-making procedure from various sources is considered, 30 million new vaccines are approximated to be gotten as early as the very first quarter of next year.
” From numerous schedules, it appears that the fastest is 30 million in the first quarter, while the rest will be in the 2nd and third quarters,” Airlanggga described.
The minister believes that the pandemic will stretch until next year accompanied by countermeasures, both through the production of vaccines and medications.
” The majority of the drugs can be produced,” Airlangga mentioned.
Research Study and Innovation Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro had actually earlier projected that the locally developed COVID-19 Red and White vaccine would be prepared for mass production in the 4th quarter (Q4) of 2021.
” It is anticipated that in the 4th quarter of 2021, we can begin mass production of the vaccine. This will match the other COVID-19 vaccine produced in partnership with foreign companies, including Sinovac (China) and G42(UAE),” Brodjonegoro said after reporting updates on advancement of the Red and White vaccine to President Joko Widodo at the Bogor Presidential Palace, Bogor, West Java, on Wednesday.
The Red and White vaccine was developed by a domestic consortium based on an infection strain found in Indonesia and named after Indonesia’s national flag.
Prior to its mass production in the fourth quarter of 2021, the vaccine needs to have undergone several phases: animal screening by the end of 2020 and production solution for medical test phases 1, 2, and 3 in early 2021.
The National Company of Food and Drug Control (BPOM) will inspect the product security. As soon as the company declares the vaccine as safe and can preserve body resistance, PT Bio Farma Persero will begin the mass production.
” Hopefully, the vaccination can be carried out quickly,” he remarked.
As the vaccine was established based on an infection stress found in Indonesia, it is anticipated to work successfully to enhance the resistance of Indonesians against the SARS CoV-2 virus.
Advancement of the vaccine, involving the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, several universities, and research institutions, has reached 50- percent completion.
Related news: Native vaccine advancement team should work swiftly: Jokowi
Associated news: Red and White Vaccine group invites private firms for production
MODIFIED BY INE
