President Jokowi Forms a Team to Accelerate COVID-19 Vaccine Development

A screenshot of Presidential Decree Number 18 of 2020.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has established a team to accelerate COVID-19 vaccine development through Presidential Decree (Keppres) Number 18 of 2020, which was signed by the President on Thursday (3/9).

Link: https://jdih.setkab.go.id/PUUdoc/176226/Keppres_Nomor_18_Tahun_2020.pdf.

Previously, the President had formed two teams, namely the COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery Task Forces under the Committee for COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery (KPC PEN).

Spokesperson of COVID-19 Handling Task Force Prof. Wiku Adisasmito explained the objectives of formation of the team in a press conference at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Tuesday (8/9).

“First, the team formation aims to accelerate the development of COVID-19 vaccine. Second, it aims to improve the country’s resilience and independence in responding to the pandemic, particularly in regard to vaccine. Third, it seeks to improve synergy among research institutions,” Wiku said.

This synergy is necessary because there are a lot of research institutions in the country. So, these institutions will have the same objectives if they synergize.

Fourth, the team is formed to prepare and increase national vaccine-production capacity.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs has been appointed to chair the team’s steering committee, while Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture and Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs have been appointed as members of the team.

Meanwhile, Minister of Research and Technology and National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is in charge of the development of a potential vaccine with the assistance of Minister of Health and Minister for State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN).

In addition, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Industry, Minister of Trade, Head of the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM), and other elements of government have been also appointed to join the teams.

“All the existing task forces and the COVID-19 vaccine development team should synergize and complete the task by the end of 2021,” he added.

The vaccine development team will carry out their tasks starting from the date of the issuance of the decree.

For the record, the activities of COVID-19 vaccine development will become the responsibility of the National Research and Innovation Agency once the vaccine development team has completed the tasks. (Communication Team of the COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery Committee/EN)

Translated by: Syarifah Aisyah
Reviewed by: Mia Medyana