"If this vaccine completes the Phase 3 clinical trial with good results, it will support the acceleration of vaccinations and help accelerate the handling of the pandemic," he opined when contacted here on Saturday.
Susanto said that the development of the SOE vaccine has shown that Indonesia has the ability to produce vaccines.
The pulmonologist added that with the development of the locally-made vaccine, Indonesia could become a global vaccine production hub.
"The innovation in developing COVID-19 vaccines in the country needs to be lauded because it shows good progress in the development of technology in the health sector," he said.
The various innovations in the country, especially in the field of health technology, must continue to be improved, he added.
Meanwhile, head of the Professional Development Division of the Indonesian Epidemiologists Association (PAEI), Masdalina Pane, said that the SOE vaccine would support efforts to ensure a more uniform distribution of vaccines.
"Hopefully, with the presence of the SOE vaccine, access to vaccines will continue to improve and reach all targets," Pane remarked.
Earlier, on Thursday (June 9, 2022), state-run pharmaceutical firm PT Bio Farma began the Phase 3 clinical trial of the SOE vaccine.
Director of Bio Farma, Honesti Basyir, affirmed that if the clinical trial goes well and the vaccine receives emergency-use authorization, then Bio Farma will commence the production of the vaccine in July 2022.
According to Basyir, 120 million vaccine doses are targeted to be produced annually.
As many as 4,050 people in the age bracket of 18 to 70 years are taking part in the third phase of the clinical trial for the SOE vaccine.
Bio Farma is planning to use the vaccine for booster and child vaccinations.
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Translator: Wuryanti Puspitasari, Raka Adj
Editor: Suharto
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