Motorcycle Taxi Rider and Family Bravely Roll up Sleeves for Covid-19 Vaccine Trial

BANDUNG, KOMPAS.com – A motorcycle taxi rider and his six family members are among the 1,620 volunteers for Covid-19 vaccine trials that began on August 11 in Indonesia.

Indonesian vaccine manufacturer PT Bio Farma and its counterpart Sinovac Biotech Ltd of China are carrying out the coronavirus vaccine test at the Faculty of Medicine at Padjajaran University in Bandung, West Java.

Bike taxi rider Fadly, 32, and three others in his family received their shots of the Covid-19 vaccine last Tuesday, while the other three family members are still waiting for their turn.

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“My wife, my sibling, my mother, my in-law, and two other relatives volunteering [for this vaccine trials],” said Fadly when contacted by Kompas.com on August 14.

On the day Fadly received the shot, he came with 19 other volunteers. He had also prepared himself by undergoing health checks before the vaccine.

He said that the reason he was willing to volunteer for the Covid-19 vaccine clinical trial is to ensure the health and safety of the family because of his daily work as a bike taxi rider who receives bookings from passengers through an online hailing app. He said his job renders him quite vulnerable to get infected by the coronavirus.

“I work as a motorcycle taxi rider who is at high risk of getting Covid-19. When there is an opportunity of receiving the vaccine, I will participate,” he said.

“I don’t want to bring the coronavirus home as three children are living with us,” said Fadly, who resides in Kopo in Bandung regency.

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He said he is scheduled to take the second coronavirus vaccine test on August 24. His health condition will be monitored for up to six months after receiving the vaccines, he added.

“We will be receiving a total of two shots and will be monitored in five stages. We will be examined at the last stage, which will take place six months from now,” he said.

After receiving the shot, he said that he did not feel any significant side effects. However, it caused drowsiness and made him feel hungry.

“After the shot, I was very sleepy to the point that I could barely open my eyes. When I woke up I was feeling fine with greater appetite,” he recalled.

His body temperature has increased, though it is still within normal range. He was also advised to avoid taking certain medicines after receiving the shot.