Gov’t Prioritizes Domestically Produced COVID-19 Vaccines

Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin Tuesday (10/18) said that the Government would prioritize the use of domestically produced COVID-19 vaccines including IndoVac and AWCorna for national vaccination drive.

In order to ensure the adequate supply of vaccines in all regions of Indonesia, the Government will reallocate the supply from regions with more vaccine stocks to regions with shortage of vaccine stocks, according to Ministry of Health’s Head of Communications and Public Services Bureau Siti Nadia Tarmizi.

“In one until two weeks, the limited supply of vaccine [in some regions] will gradually be adequate again,” she added.

Current COVID-19 vaccine stocks reached 1.2 million doses, with 200 thousand doses allocated for the Central Government and one million doses allocated for regional governments.

For the record, IndoVac vaccine is COVID-19 vaccine developed by state-owned pharmaceutical company PT Biofarma and Texas-based Baylor College of Medicine in the US. The vaccine has received emergency use authorization (EUA) from the Indonesian Food and Drug Administration (BPOM). The vaccine is ready to use as premier vaccine for people who have not received COVID-19 vaccine yet.

Meanwhile, AWCorna vaccine is COVID-19 vaccine produced by drug and vaccine manufacturer PT Etana Biotechnologies Indonesia. The vaccine has also received EUA from the BPOM and will be alternative vaccine used for COVID-19 vaccination drive for adults aged 18 years old above. (PR of Ministry of Health/UN) (AP/MUR)