Eijkman Institute Starts To Develop ‘Red and White Vaccine’ : Research Minister

: Development Team of COVID-19 vaccine meets President Jokowi at the Bogor Palace, West Java, Wednesday (9/9). (Photo: BPMI)

The Eijkman Institute has started to develop the ‘red and white vaccine’—name of the locally-produced vaccine — with a recombinant protein platform, according to Minister of Research and Technology Bambang Brodjonegoro.

The progress of the process has already reached 50%, he added.

“Our target is that by the end of this year, the institute can complete the animal trials so that in January next year the Eijkman Institute can hand over the vaccine seeds to PT Biofarma for clinical trials, for stage I, II and III. Once the clinical trial is complete and the Food and Drugs Control Agency (BPOM) declares that the vaccine is safe to use and suitable for creating body resistance against the coronavirus, PT Biofarma will mass produce it,” Bambang said.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Development Team, Bambang added, predicts that in the fourth quarter of 2021, Indonesia can produce the vaccine in large quantities and will later complement the COVID-19 vaccine that will be imported from overseas companies, such as China’s Sinovac and UEA’s G42.

According to Bambang, who also helms the team, the red and white vaccine seeds is developed by using viral isolates circulating in Indonesia so it is expected that the vaccine will be suitable for maintaining the immunity of Indonesian citizens against COVID-19.

“To support its production, not only will PT Biofarma produce 250 million doses vaccine per year starting next year, but the Government will also partner with several private pharmaceutical companies to participate in producing the COVID-19 vaccine. So far there have been three potential companies, “said Bambang.

Those companies, Bambang added, must immediately obtain a permit from the BPOM to produce the vaccine and must also prepare a special line of production for the vaccine.

With the support from the private sector, Bambang expressed optimism that Indonesia will be able to develop the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Based on research done in the early stages, there is a possibility that one person would need more than one injection of vaccine. So if our population is around 270 million people, the Government must provide a minimum of 540 million doses, meaning that the vaccine needs a large production capacity. For this reason, we are partnering with PT Biofarma to expand their production while also inviting other private companies to join,” he said.

Bambang further said President Jokowi had also ordered the COVID-19 Vaccine Development Team to work quickly and follow all procedures because the vaccine must be safe and brings no harmful side effects.

“The vaccine is also expected to be effective in strengthening our immune system against the virus. The most important thing is that we develop a vaccine to strengthen the human body’s resistance against COVID-19,” Bambang said. (FID/EN)

Translated by: Estu Widyamurti
Reviewed by: M. Ersan Pamungkas