Indonesia’s Bio Farma Has Not Confirmed Whether Older Adults to Receive Covid-19 Vaccine

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Honesti Basyir, president director of Indonesia’s state-owned pharmaceutical company Bio Farma, has yet able to confirm whether the China-made Covid-19 vaccine from Sinovac Biotech is safe for inoculating those over 60 years old.

The government has set a target of providing the Covid-19 vaccine to 16.6 million residents in the first quarter of 2021. But so far, Indonesia has only received 1.2 million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac last Sunday.

“In Indonesia, the vaccine would only be prioritized to people aged between 18 and 59 years old. But, in several places such as in Brazil, the vaccine will be given to people over 60 years old,” Basyir said during a virtual press conference held by Marketeers on Wednesday.

Also read: Indonesia Receives 1.2 Million Doses of Covid-19 Vaccine from China’s Sinovac

“We will wait for the Ministry of Health and BPOM [the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency]. If the vaccine is safe [for older adults] it may then be given to people over 60 years old,” he added.

Basyir said that the mass inoculation program will be referring to the government’s plan and that is to be provided for people aged 18-59 years old.

“The government will prioritize people of 18-59 years old,” he said.

The media reported on Tuesday that the UK began vaccinating their residents by providing the vaccine from BioNTech/Pfizer which is developed in Germany.

Also read: Indonesia to Implement Covid -19 Vaccine Shot in Stages: Health Ministry

The vaccine has been approved by the British authorities to be used in emergency cases. The British government has prioritized senior citizens over 80 years old, healthcare workers, and high-risk groups to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.

An elderly named Margaret Keenan, who will turn 91 next week, was the first recipient of the Pfizer vaccine in the UK. Margaret received the vaccine at University Hospital Coventry.

(Writer: Ade Miranti Karunia | Editor: Ambaranie Nadia Kemala Movanita)

Source: https://money.kompas.com/read/2020/12/09/140041626/bio-farma-belum-pastikan-vaksin-sinovac-aman-bagi-lansia-di-atas-60-tahun.