Indonesia Eyes Local Covid-19 Vaccine Mass Production by Mid-2021

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Indonesia’s Ministry of Research and Technology estimates that it would start the mass production of a local Covid-19 vaccine by mid-2021. 

The estimated timeframe is the quickest scenario based on an assessment by Ali Ghufron Mukti.

Ali chairs the Covid-19 Research and Innovation Consortium at the Ministry of Research and Technology.

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The statement was made during a press conference at the Presidential Office on July 2.

Ali said that the national consortium’s Covid-19 vaccine development is underway.

Leading pharmaceutical companies such as Bio Farma, Kalbe Farma, and even Eijkman have been developing their own Covid-19 vaccine formulation.

However, Ali predicts that the pre-clinical trial of the newer Covid-19 vaccines will begin towards the end of 2020.

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“If an extension is needed then the pre-clinical trials would start in early 2021,” said Ali Mukti.