Vaccine is the biggest import in terms of moneyJakarta (ANTARA) - Seven out of the 14 vaccine antigens used for the routine immunization program in Indonesia can already be produced domestically, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated.
"Vaccine is the biggest import in terms of money. There are still seven antigens that we imported," he noted during a work meeting with the House of Representatives' (DPR's) Commission IX streamed online, Tuesday.
Antigens that can be produced domestically comprise antigens for the development of Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis, Influenza, and Polio (OPV) vaccines.
Meanwhile, the rest of the antigens that Indonesia still imported are those for Measles, Rubella, Injectable Polio (IPV), Japanese encephalitis, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV), and Rotavirus vaccines.
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To this day, researchers in Indonesia have mastered three out of the four vaccine technology platforms that comprise viral vector (Adenovirus) as well as the nucleic acid-based (mRNA and DNA) platform.
Earlier, two private pharmaceutical companies in Indonesia -- PT Etana and Biotis Pharmaceutical -- have conducted technology transfer for mRNA-based vaccine and sub-unit protein production.
"With two new private companies outside of Bio Farma, we can expedite the development of these seven imported vaccines, and we are preparing a more complete technology platform," he remarked.
"In addition to the protein-based platform, we are developing mRNA and vector-based platform," he continued.
According to Sadikin, production for the development of seven imported vaccine antigens begins this year until 2025.
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To expedite the process of achieving reliance in national vaccine production, the government placed two Indonesian representatives as board members of two global organizations: Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and Global Fund.
Indonesia becomes CEPI's board member for the 2021-2027 period. CEPI is a leading organization in innovation and readiness in facing the pandemic.
It plays an important role as part of the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) scheme in the vaccine pillar that allows for faster provision of COVID-19 vaccines.
Meanwhile, Global Fund is the largest world organization in health funding to handle tuberculosis, HIV, and malaria. Its funding reaches US$15-16 billion once every three years.
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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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