In the endemic (phase), we give a transition time of one year for manufacturers to upgrade their emergency permit to a regular permit.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) will start to upgrade the distribution status of COVID-19 vaccines from emergency use to regular distribution once the national health emergency status is lifted.

"This provision is to provide protection guarantees to the public in the long term," BPOM head Penny Lukito said during a mass vaccination in Bogor, West Java, on Tuesday.

Lukito assured that all vaccine products that are currently in circulation meet the aspects of safety, quality, and effectiveness, as the BPOM regularly monitors manufacturers.

According to her, to monitor their effectiveness, the vaccines have undergone a series of clinical trials by the BPOM.

Every technology or platform developed by COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers currently holds emergency-use authorization due to pandemic circumstances that require vaccination as protection.

The BPOM has regularly conducted supervision every three months to ensure the safety, quality, and effectiveness of vaccines in public.

Meanwhile, manufacturers are involving researchers and experts to monitor any side effects that may be caused by COVID-19 vaccines.

Since the World Health Organization (WHO) lifted the global health emergency status for COVID-19 on May 5, 2023, countries in the world, including Indonesia, have begun to lift their national emergency status.

Entering the post-pandemic era, Lukito said, the COVID-19 vaccine distribution must be completed and provide in-depth data related to their safety and effectiveness to ensure long-term community protection through the national immunization program.

"Currently, the government is considering lifting the national health emergency status. Manufacturers (must) keep researching and monitoring vaccine products so they get more data for BPOM to get a regular distribution permit," she added.

BPOM has given 12 months to vaccine manufacturers to upgrade their product distribution permits from emergency use to regular distribution.

"In the endemic (phase), we give a transition time of one year for manufacturers to upgrade their emergency permit to a regular permit," she said.

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Translator: Andi F, Kenzu
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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