Jokowi Launches Indonesia’s First Homegrown Covid-19 Vaccine

BANDUNG, KOMPAS.com - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo launched Indonesia’s first homegrown Covid-19 vaccine IndoVac produced by state-owned pharmaceutical company PT Bio Farma on Thursday, Oct. 13.

"This morning, I launch the IndoVac vaccine produced by PT Bio Farma," Jokowi said during the ceremony at the company’s head office in Bandung, West Java province.

Jokowi ensured that the vaccine is locally produced from upstream to downstream. According to the head of state, the vaccine is the result of the hard work of young Indonesian human resources.

"The vaccine production and development takes time, approximately 1.5 years, from the beginning until the launch. They work in a silent [manner]. Finally, they can release the vaccine now," Jokowi said.

Also read: Indonesia Approves First Homegrown Covid-19 Vaccine

The head of state said that Bio Farma can produce 20 million doses of the IndoVac vaccine this year. As for 2023, some 40 million doses of the IndoVac vaccine could be produced.

To this end, President Jokowi urged State-owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir and Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin to support Bio Farma to produce vaccines.

Hence, he expressed optimism that Bio Farma would be able to generate major revenues and that Indonesia would harbor an independent spirit in meeting the domestic vaccine needs.

"For the polio vaccine alone, Bio Farma controls 70 percent of the world's market share, 70 percent supplies of the polio vaccine to all countries. This is extraordinary," he said.

Also read: Indonesia to Launch Homegrown Covid-19 Vaccine Soon