Health Minister: Gov’t Only Provide Safe Vaccines

Minister of Health Terawan Agus Putranto (Source: Screenshot from Ministry of Communication and Informatics YouTube TV)

The Government will only provide the COVID-19 vaccines that are proven safe and have passed clinical trials, Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto has said.

“The Government will only provide vaccines that are safe and have passed clinical trials according to the recommendations of the WHO,” said the Minister on Monday (7/12) in Jakarta.

For the record, as many as 1.2 million COVID-19 vaccines arrived at Soekarno Hatta Airport, Jakarta on Sunday (6/12). The China’s Sinovac-made vaccines are carried using a special cargo charter plane from China capital of Beijing.

“The arrival report of vaccine document is filled in completely and correctly, according to the results of the physical examination of the vaccines. The physical inspection must be carried out carefully to ensure the vaccines were received in good condition,” Terawan explained.

Terawan went on to say that the vaccines will immediately receive approval for use in an emergency situation or called Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) and a halal certificate from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI).

After the vaccines receive those documents to ensure the safety, quality and efficacy of the vaccines, they will be distributed in stages starting from the central government, provincial governments, and district / city governments with the Good Drug Distribution Method (CPOB) to ensure the quality of the vaccines until they are accepted by the community.

In addition to creating a road map for vaccine distribution, the Government has also set priority groups for vaccine recipients.

“For this first shipment of the vaccines, the first ones who will get injected are health workers, health worker assistants, and support personnel who work in Health Service Facilities,” said Terawan.

Currently, Ministry of Health has prepared the numbers of targets and vaccines needs per district / city. The data is then submitted to the COVID-19 Working Committee Information System Team.

“In accordance with the plan for the vaccines distribution, the vaccines will be distributed to the vaccine warehouse at the provincial health offices, to then be circulated to the health offices,” said the Minister.

However, Terawan also reminded that vaccination is the second defense against the COVID-19 transmission. The main defense that must continue to be implemented is the discipline of implementing health protocols (wearing masks, maintaining distance, and washing hands).

“Hopefully, the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination can be carried out on time, run well and smoothly, so that the pandemic can be resolved quickly. Remain discipline in implementing health protocols, namely wearing masks, maintaining distance, washing hands regularly,” Terawan said. (Ministry Of Health/UN) (EST/LW)