AstraZeneca vaccine is ready to be used in Indonesia next week. (Image via DW)

BPOM allows AstraZeneca for COVID-19 vaccination program

On Friday, the Indonesian National Agency Food and Drug Control (BPOM) had given the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the British-Swedish vaccine, AstraZeneca-Oxford, to be used for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination program.

The EUA was given after a peer-review session with the Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI), National Committee for Drug Evaluation, and National Commission on Post-Immunization Accidents (Komnas KIPI). Speaking on Friday, the Chairwoman of BPOM, Penny K. Lukito, stated that the benefit of AstraZeneca's vaccine outweighed the risks. Therefore, the vaccine is considered usable.

Previously, the EUA for AstraZeneca was delayed after 15 European countries put the vaccine on-hold, following the rare blood clotting incidents after injection. The reviews also involved communication with the World Health Organization and FDAs of other countries for a thorough investigation.

The blood clotting incident had been discussed in a special meeting between WHO and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). It was later known that the incident often occurs and the third most frequent in the world. Moreover, EMA does not question the quality and effectiveness of AstraZeneca's vaccine.

Meanwhile, the Health Minister, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, stated on Friday that AstraZeneca's vaccination program will be held starting next week. Through the online press conference, Budi Gunadi revealed the plan to use a vaccine certificate for certain public activities. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was said studying the plan to require a vaccine certificate from transportation to concerts.

Source: https://bit.ly/3r1j4yl