UNS — The spokesman for Covid-19 Taskforce at Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta Hospital, Tonang Dwi Ardyanto, dr., Sp.PK., Ph.D., responded to the Director of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control of the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) RI, Siti Nadia Tarmizi announcement on the use of Sinovac for12-17 years old children.
The plan approved by the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) in an official announcement on Monday (28/6/2021) was not in line with the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation on the use of Pfizer vaccine for children older than 12 years old. As a response to this matter, dr. Tonang stated that the permit for medication use, including the Covid-19 vaccine, is fully regulated by related countries under authorized institutions. Therefore, the emergency use authorization of the Covid-19 vaccine in Indonesia for Sinovac is fully under the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) authority.
“In Indonesia by BPOM. Thus, BPOM could issue a permit without waiting for a permit from WHO,” dr. Tonang stated in an interview with Tempo.co, Tuesday (29/6/2021).
dr. Tonang also explained that the Emergency Use of Listing (EUL) issued by WHO authorize the use of vaccines in the GAVI/ COVAX program. A partnership program for vaccine development between WHO and Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization (GAVI). Indonesia is registered as a vaccine recipient in the GAVI/COVAX program after signed form B by the Minister of Finance (Menkeu) RI, Sri Mulyani, and Minister of Health (Menkes) RI Budi Gunadi Sadikin.
“Thus, EUL WHO is not a basis for usage in a country,” dr. Tonang explained.
He added that Covid-19 vaccines, such as Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, and Sinovac, have been used in several countries even before WHO issued EUL. For example, Moderna and AstraZeneca received EUL from WHO in April 2021, while these vaccines have been used before that. “Because, again, it is the right from each country,” dr. Tonang said.
Besides responding to the issue, the teacher of the Clinical Pathology at PPDS UNS, FK UNS, also shared his hope that the government could expand the use of vaccines. He added that currently, a clinical test for Covid-19 vaccines is needed so that BPOM could analyze the result. “If accepted, emergency use of authorization or EUA will be issued,” he concluded. Humas UNS
Reporter: Yefta Christopherus AS
Editor: Dwi Hastuti