COVID-19 Vaccine Trials Runs Smoothly: Foreign Minister

Minister of foreign affairs delivers a statement after attending a virtual Limited Cabinet Meeting on the Report of the Committee for COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery, Monday (28/9). Photo by: Rahmat/PR.

The phase 3 clinical trials of a potential COVID-19 vaccine developed by Sinovac and Bio Farma runs smoothly, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi has said.

“The preparation for timely vaccine delivery continues to be carried out on a prudent basis,” the Minister said after attending a virtual Limited Cabinet Meeting on the Report of the Committee for COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery, Monday (28/9).

Retno said that the report of Head of the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Trials Team Prof. Dr. Kusnandi shows the phase 3 clinical trials of the vaccine developed by Sinovac and Bio Farma runs smoothly and generated good results.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Retno added, continues to monitor the cooperation between State Owned Enterprise Bio Farma and Sinovac.

“On 20-24 September, the Sinovac expert team conducted a visit to Bandung to review the Bio Farma vaccine production site and at the same time observe the implementation of phase 3 clinical trials carried out in Bandung area,” the Minister said.

Apart from the Sinovac vaccine, Bio Farma will also produce vaccine in collaboration with CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations), and other vaccine candidates.

“The total vaccine production capacity of Bio Farma has increased from 100 million to 250 million,” the Foreign Minister said.

In the meantime, the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) will conduct an on-site visit to the Sinovac facility in Beijing to see firsthand the quality of the vaccine. The BPOM also communicates with Sinopharm and Group 42 (G42) as well as the United Arab Emirates (UEA) authorities regarding data sharing on the COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials.

“The data sharing is very important for the BPOM in terms of the use of vaccine originating from Sinopharm and the G42. The BPOM is committed to ensuring the safety, efficacy and quality of vaccine,” Retno said.

Retno further said that Ministry of Foreign Affairs will facilitate communication with foreign parties in an effort to procure the COVID-19 vaccine. (FID/UN)

Translated by: Ridwan Ibadurrohman
Reviewed by: Mia Medyana