"The COVID-19 vaccine injected to the public has undergone due diligence and safety tests," Tarmizi noted in a written statement received by ANTARA here on Tuesday.
The statement was made in response to news that the CoronaVac vaccine manufactured by Sinovac Biotech will expire on March 25, 2021.
Siti Nadia ensured that the COVID-19 vaccine given to the public did not expire.
"Regarding the expiration of the Sinovac vaccine, we say that the vaccine that will expire is the first batch of CoronaVac vaccines numbering around 1.2 million doses and 1.8 million doses," she remarked.
She noted that the CoronaVac vaccine was administered to 1.45 million health workers and 50 thousand public service workers.
"We are currently using the vaccine," she remarked.
Furthermore, the ministry’s spokesperson expounded that the CoronaVac vaccine packaged in a small bottle or vial and containing one dosage for one injection would expire.
"Meanwhile, the Sinovac vaccine that we currently use for people over 60 years of age and for public workers is a vaccine that uses large bottle or vials containing 10 doses or can be given to 10 vaccination targets," she remarked.
She also clarified that the Health Ministry had responded to cases of several people abroad that had developed blood clots after being administered the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
"We are waiting for any information from the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) to see if there is a change in the criteria for use. Hence, we are also ensuring complete quality control before distribution," the spokesperson revealed. Related news: Vaccine arrivals to push pace of immunization in July-Dec: minister
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EDITED BY INE
Translator: Andi Firdaus, Katriana
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
