Durian. Indonesia has entered phase III of clinical trial for covid-19 vaccine from China-based biopharmaceutical firm Sinovac that is expected will be resumed by early January 2021, Head of the Research Team from Faculty of Medicine of Padjajaran University Kusnandi Rusmil on July 21.
“We plan to complete this clinical trial [phase] in January with a total of 1,620 samples to be taking part . Next, injection will be carried out by the Ministry of Health,” Rusmil said after meeting Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Jakarta.
President Widodo has approved this plan and expected the trial to resume in January next year.
Head of Indonesia’s Drug and Food Control Agency (BPOM) Penny Kusumastuti Lukito said BPOM will closely assist the third phase of clinical trial and guarantee to accelerate the process of neccessary permit when the vaccine is declared passing the trial.
“In parallel, the production process will be carried out by Bio Farma. After that, we will issue the distribution permit soon,” she said, referring to Indonesian state-owned vaccine producer.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto said that the Ministry of Health prepares personnel to carry out immunization as well as supporting budget.
Previously, CEO of Bio Farma Honesti Basyir has said that the firm will ensure the vaccine production capacity could be managed properly.
He added, Bio Farma has prepared to produce100 million doses annualy and will expand to 250 million doses in the future.
“But for the first phase [of manufacture], in accordance with the January clinical trial completion target, by the time it has completed and the distribution permit is issued, we have targeted to be able to complete around 40 million doses annualy,” Basyir said.
