Erick Thohir Called the Covid-19 Vaccine Not for Children

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The Chief Executive of the Committee for Handling Covid-19 and National Economic Recovery (KPEN), Erick Thohir , said that the current Covid-19 vaccine only applies to ages 18 and over. From the latest information, the existing Covid-19 vaccine was valid for ages from 18 years to 59 years, but from the latest confirmation that people over 59 can receive this vaccine said Erick in a joint working meeting with the DPR Commission IX in Jakarta. reported by Antara, Friday (28/8/2020).

Erick said the Covid-19 vaccine has a period of between six months to two years. So it's not a vaccine that is injected forever. The former President of Inter Milan added that the Covid-19 vaccine for the age of under 18 including children is still being developed and in process.

Currently, Erick Thohir who is also the Minister of BUMN said that BUMN is pharmaceutical Indonesia has collaborated with a number of international companies, such as Sinovac from China and a company from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), G42 to develop vaccines.

He said, with Sinovac, we emphasize that we want to cooperate not only in the production process but also we want transfers technology for the use or even producing of this Covid-19 vaccine. Meanwhile, with G42, he continued, the focus is on developing Covid-19 vaccine products as well as coverage of pharmaceutical products, health services, research and clinical trials, as well as marketing and distribution. "G42 is currently conducting its own clinical trials in the UAE on 45 thousand volunteers from 85 ethnic groups. That's why we sent a team to the UAE as a reviewer to synchronize the system

Erick revealed that Bio Farma had collaborated with Sinovac regarding the raw material for the Covid-19 vaccine. If by the end of 2020 the vaccine can be produced, then Bio Farma must buy the raw materials from Sinovac from China for 8 US dollars or Rp. 117,135 (exchange rate of Rp. 14,641) per dose.

Erick said, indeed, the price that has been cooperated with Sinovac for 2020 is 8 US dollars per dose, but in 2021 the price is 6-7 US dollars, so there is a decrease. These are raw materials. Meanwhile, if the vaccine from Sinovac is ready to be used for mass immunization in Indonesia, the estimated price calculation from Bio Farma is IDR 25-30 US dollars or a range of IDR 366,000 to IDR 439,000. So the initial calculation of the price of this vaccine is for one person, because one person needs two injections and the time lag is approximately two weeks. The price ranges from 25-30 US dollars. Each person needs to be vaccinated twice. The time span is around two weeks. But that does not mean we want to buy expensive vaccines because of course this vaccine is only a short term. In the future, the red and white vaccine must be done.

Erick revealed that the BUMN Ministry did not want Indonesia to be a consumptive country forever. He hopes that in the future Indonesia can be independent, including in matters of corona virus vaccine production.

Erick said,, if there will be a transfer of knowledge and technology from this collaboration, then Indonesia's mission to mass immunize the Covid-19 vaccine in early 2021 can be realized. The Foreign Minister and I also emphasized that when Sinovac was found, we made sure that technology transfer was not just buying (imports) and this is what I hope we all can revive.