“(Research is moving) Certainly in that direction; of course, the clinical trials will need to be monitored," said Brodjonegoro, who is also head of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), when contacted by ANTARA in Jakarta on Friday.
The COVID-19 vaccines that are currently available cannot be administered to children or adolescents under 18 years of age, he pointed out.
In fact, this age group is also vulnerable to COVID-19 and must be protected from the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, he said.
In addition, the existing COVID-19 vaccines can be given to elderly people with certain conditions, so not all elderly people can receive it, he added.
To ensure the efficacy and safety of the Red-and-White vaccine, the process and results of the clinical trials for the vaccine will need to be monitored, the minister said.
The expected safety of the vaccine is the maximum and has to be proven in clinical trials, he added.
According to Tri Yunis Miko Wahyono, an epidemiologist from the University of Indonesia, Indonesians of all ages are vulnerable to COVID-19, so it is hoped that future vaccinations can be given to all residents.
There are still millions of Indonesians under the age of 18 who have not been given the COVID-19 vaccine, he noted.
He said he hopes the Red-and-White vaccine becomes a breakthrough vaccine that helps build immunity against the SARS-CoV-2 virus in children under 18 years of age.
"There is no vaccine that can be given to those people (under the age of 18 years so far). So, we are waiting for the Red-and-White vaccine," Yunis remarked.
The Red-and-White vaccine is being developed as part of efforts to build vaccine self-sufficiency in Indonesia given the limited availability of COVID-19 vaccines around the globe. (INE)
Related news: Indonesia strives for vaccine self-reliance in COVID fight
Related news: Red and White vaccine could become game-changing discovery: Thohir
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Martha H, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
