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JAKARTA: Indonesia will give health personnel, as well as workers between 18 and 59 years of age, priority access to the COVID-19 vaccine, the country’s health minister said.
After attending a meeting with various ministers on the vaccination program on Wednesday (September 30), Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto said that the country needs 320 million doses of vaccine.
Indonesia’s population is about 260 million.
“Vaccines will be given priority to those who are on the front lines, that is, all healthcare workers and all people who work in medical facilities. They will then be given to members of the public in the high category risk, that is, workers between 18 and 59 years old, “Putranto said.
Indonesia’s vaccination plan is run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of State Enterprises, the National Food and Drug Control Agency, and the National Disaster Agency.
However, epidemiologist Pandu Riono said the decision on who should have priority access to the vaccine should be openly discussed with the public.
“Because it will involve public funds,” he told CNA.
READ: Indonesia will get priority access to the Chinese company’s COVID-19 vaccine formula to participate in a human trial
Indonesia is currently working with some companies in various countries to secure vaccines for its citizens, while developing one locally.
Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, who also attended the meeting, said Indonesia has held talks with several countries on the supply of vaccines.
“We have been communicating regularly with China, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom about the supply of vaccines for Indonesia.
“We have also arranged meetings with countries to further review clinical trials and vaccine production to be shipped to Indonesia,” said Mdm Marsudi.
Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir tours COVID-19 vaccine production at Bio Farma office amid the coronavirus pandemic in Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia, on August 4, 2020 (Photo: Reuters / Antara Foto / Dhemas Reviyant). )
Indonesia is also participating in the late-stage human trial of Sinovac Biotech’s COVID-19 candidate vaccine, one of the few candidates in the world that has entered phase 3 clinical trials.
Indonesia’s state pharmaceutical company Bio Farma is partnering with Padjajaran University in Bandung city to conduct the trials with 1,620 volunteers.
Professor Kusnandi Rusmil, head of clinical trials, said Wednesday that the trials so far have been safe and the results would be known in January.
“If all goes well according to plan, Bio Farma will be able to start production in January 2021,” added Bio Farma CEO Honesti Basyir.
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