Report by Arif Maulana
Translation by Shabrina Maharani
[unpad.ac.id, 17/9/2020] The development of the COVID-19 vaccine in Indonesia faces a number of challenges. However, the government continues to support various efforts made regarding the development of the COVID-19 vaccine.
This was conveyed by the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, Terawan Agus Putranto, through a scientific oration read by the Special Staff of the Minister of Health for Development and Health Financing, Alexander Kaliaga Ginting Suka, at the 63rd Anniversary of the Unpad Faculty of Medicine (FK Unpad) which was held on a limited basis in the Chasan Boesoirie Hall, Unpad Teaching Hospital, Jalan Eijkman No. 38, Bandung, Thursday (17/9).
Alex said the challenges faced in developing the COVID-19 vaccine included the speed of vaccine production. Given the characteristics of the very fast spread of COVID-19, the vaccine development must also be accelerated.
The next challenge is in terms of cost. Alex explained that vaccine development requires high capital. To reduce this, the government is trying to collaborate with various other countries to develop the COVID-19 vaccine.
Therefore, the government continues to encourage scientists and researchers to continue to develop innovations in the field of the COVID-19 vaccine. “The government supports researchers by providing relocation and various regulations for COVID-19 research,” he explained.
Indonesia’s geographic factors can also be a challenge in itself once the vaccine has been successfully produced. This geographic challenge must also be handled properly.
Until now, several countries have produced various vaccine candidates. Alex revealed, as of September 11, 2020, there were 180 vaccine candidates in the world. A total of 145 were preclinical in nature, 26 vaccines have undergone phase 1 – 2 clinical trials, and 9 vaccines have undergone phase 3 clinical trials.
Indonesia is currently conducting phase III clinical trials on vaccines from Sinovac, China. Clinical trials were conducted by Bio Farma in collaboration with FK Unpad. “We just need to wait for the results,” he added.
Increasingly Beneficial
Reaching its 63rd year, FK Unpad continues to play an active role in improving health services in Indonesia. FK Unpad has contributed a lot, especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Unpad Dr.med. Setiawan, dr., AIFM, said that FK Unpad continues to strive to improve the COVID prevention literacy of Unpad residents and the general public. This is so that Unpad does not become a new cluster for the spread of COVID-19.
FK Unpad is also actively involved in examining COVID-19 samples. More than 37,000 samples have been successfully tested by the Laboratory at the Unpad Teaching Hospital.
In addition, research activities in collaboration with a number of partners outside Unpad have also been carried out to create various innovations in terms of handling COVID-19. Finally, FK Unpad also played an active role in the phase III clinical trial of the COVID-19 Sinovac vaccine from China, with Bio Farma.
“We also received cooperation offers for phase III clinical trials from other vaccine candidates with different settings and protocols. This will become one of the varieties of COVID-19 vaccine products in Indonesia,” said Setiawan.
The 63rd Anniversary Event of Unpad FK also included the delivery of a scientific oration from the President Director of PT. Bio Farma, Honesti Basyir, and a scientific oration from a Professor of FK Unpad who is also the Head of the COVID-19 Vaccine Research Team of FK Unpad, Prof. Dr. Kusnandi Rusmil, dr., Sp.A(K), M.M.*
You can read the original article in Indonesian here: https://www.unpad.ac.id/2020/09/pengembangan-vaksin-covid-19-di-indonesia-hadapi-tantangan/