As of Thursday (Jan 21), four million doses (of COVID-19 vaccine) had been produced.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - State-run vaccine manufacturer PT Bio Farma (Persero) announced that it had completed the production of four million doses of COVID-19 vaccine that will be ready for distribution in February 2021.

"As of Thursday (Jan 21), four million doses (of the COVID-19 vaccine) had been produced. Now, the vaccine is still undergoing the quality control process, and the result will be sent to BPOM to obtain the lot release before it can be distributed," President Director of Bio Farma Honesti Basyir noted in a statement here on Saturday.

Basyir remarked that Bio Farma had received 15 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in bulk from China's Sinovac Biotech Ltd on January 12 and had continued to process the raw material into final products.

In total, Bio Farma will receive 140 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine raw material.

"Bio Farma and Sinovac will collaborate under two mechanisms, specifically the import of finished product single dose that targets Indonesia's front liners and import in bulk or vaccine concentrate. This bulk will be processed further at Bio Farma's fill and finish facility," Basyir stated.

For its distribution, Basyir stated that the Bio Farma group, in cooperation with state-run pharmaceutical firm PT Kimia Farma Tbk and PT Indofarma Tbk, will optimize their 48 branches and warehouses across the country.

"In terms of technology, Bio Farma has prepared an end-to-end digital solution from the production plant, to distribution until its final destination in health facilities. The distribution process can be monitored in real time from the Command Center of the state-run pharmaceutical holding," he remarked.

Indonesia requires 426 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for inoculating 181.5 million people.

The government has issued Health Ministerial Decree No. HK.01.07/2020 on types of vaccine for the COVID-19 vaccination program.

The decree stipulated that vaccine supply will be obtained from PT Bio Farma, AstraZeneca, China National Pharmaceutical Group Corporation (Sinopharm), Moderna, Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech and Sinovac Life Sciences Co., Ltd, and Novovax.

The result of all vaccines’ clinical tests, from phase 1 to 3, should be reported and should have obtained Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the National Food and Drug Control Agency (BPOM). Related news: Ministry submits halal certificate for Sinovac vaccine to Bio Farma
Related news: Bio Farma allowed to produce 100 million doses of Sinovac vaccine

EDITED BY INE

Translator: Zubi Mahrofi, Sri Haryati
Editor: Suharto
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