Sinovac's vaccine, CoronaVac, arrived in Indonesia on Sunday night. Will it be distributed soon? (Image via SINDONews)

COVID-19 vaccine arrives, Experts: 3rd phase trial is still needed

Indonesian epidemiologists stated that the third phase of the clinical trial on Sinovac's novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine, dubbed CoronaVac, still has to be done. About 1.2 million of CoronaVac has arrived in Indonesia on Sunday night from China.

Speaking on Monday to CNN Indonesia, pandemic expert and epidemiologist from Griffith University in Australia, Dicky Budiman, stated that the clinical trial has to continue as there is no efficacy and safety data by the related parties on the development of COVID-19 vaccine by the Chinese-flagged pharma. Dicky asserted that while the vaccine has already arrived, the clinical trial must not be compromised.

Currently, Sinovac is collaborating with Bio Farma to hold the third phase of the clinical trial since 14 August 2020, to some 1,620 participants in Bandung, West Java. In Indonesia, Bio Farma is appointed to produce the vaccine. Therefore, the third phase of the clinical trial is held in Indonesia. Bio Farma also invited Medical Faculty of Padjadjaran University to prepare for CoronaVac's clinical trial.

Supporting Dicky's statement, an epidemiologist from the Public Health Faculty of Airlangga University, Laura Navika, stated that the third phase of the clinical trial on CoronaVac in Indonesia must go on. The third phase of the clinical trial aims to test the efficacy of the vaccine. Moreover, Laura stated that Sinovac's CoronaVac needs the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the National National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM). The requirement? Clinical trial's result.

Laura estimated that the clinical trial on Sinovac's CoronaVac will finish by February 2021. Besides Indonesia, Sinovac also tested its vaccine in China, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Philippines, Turkey, and Chile.

Dicky suggested the Indonesian Government not to use the vaccine - even if BPOM releases its EUA - until the result of the clinical trial has proven so. However, Dicky revealed that until now, there is no adequate efficacy and security data coming from Sinovac.

Source: https://bit.ly/39K2X3j