The 19 people took swab tests yesterday. Actually, the number of volunteers taking swab tests yesterday was supposed to be 20. Only one did not show up, maybe he did not feel well.
Bandung. W Java (ANTARA) - Nineteen volunteers were administered the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine at the Educational Hospital in Padjadjaran University (Unpad), Bandung, West Java on Tuesday.



“The 19 people took swab tests yesterday. Actually, the number of volunteers taking swab tests yesterday was supposed to be 20. Only one did not show up, maybe he did not feel well,” chief of the research team conducting the clinical trials for the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine, Prof. Kusnandi Rusmil, said on Tuesday.



President Joko Widodo was present at the hospital when the 19 volunteers were given shots of the COVID-19 vaccine as part of the clinical trial. The President arrived at the venue around 11.17 a.m. He was accompanied by Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto, State Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir, and chief of the National Disaster Mitigation Board (BNPB), Lt. Gen. Doni Monardo.



Besides the Educational Hospital at Padjadjaran University, five other agencies have also kicked off the initial phase of clinical trials for the China-made vaccine. They are — the Unpad Health Center, Puskesmas (Public Health Service Post) Sukapakir, Puskesmas Dago, Puskesmas Ciumbuleuit, and Puskesmas Garuda, Kusnandi said



After receiving the injection, the volunteers will continue to coordinate with the research team to report their health progress. They will be given the second dose of the vaccine after 14 days.



"After being injected twice, their blood will be taken for examination," he said.



The President is upbeat about the phase III clinical trials for the COVID-19 vaccine being completed in six months' time.



Indonesia is expected to independently start producing the vaccine by January, 2021. If the vaccine can be produced en masse, it will later be distributed across the Indonesian nation, he noted.



The vaccine, administered to 1,620 volunteers, has been developed by state-owned pharmaceutical company PT Bio Farma and Chinese vaccine producer Sinovac.



The President has noted that in the past three months, vaccine development has been carried out by the Eijkmam Institute along with the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Drug and Food Supervisory Board (BPPOM), Research and Technology Ministry, and several universities. (INE)


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Translator: Bagus Ahmad Rizaldi/Suharto
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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