Yogyakarta (ANTARA) – UGM Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing (FKKMK) virology expert, dr. Mohamad Saifudin Hakim stated that vaccines are not the only solution to stop the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think the government still needs to take various efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to the fullest. The public must be disciplined in implementing efforts to prevent transmission. There should be no slack at all,” said Saifudin in a written statement in Yogyakarta, Tuesday.
He said previous coronavirus outbreaks such as SARS-CoV in 2002-2003 and MERS-CoV in 2012 were successfully stopped without vaccines.
In fact, according to him, countries that have succeeded in holding back the rate of increase in COVID-19 cases, such as China, South Korea, New Zealand, Taiwan can suppress the increase in cases with well-implemented and disciplined prevention efforts.
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According to him, preventive measures such as case isolation, contact tracing and quarantine, physical imprisonment, wearing masks and washing hands, and community quarantine (lockdown) are urgently needed.
Although the Sinovac vaccine product is currently being tested clinically, according to Saifudin, it cannot be rushed to claim it will be effective in the future, because it is necessary to wait for the results of clinical trials.
“Do not rush to conclude that the vaccine currently being clinically tested will definitely be effective and will definitely be an option for distribution. This is a premature conclusion,” he said.
He assessed that vaccine candidates that have entered into phase 3 clinical trials do not guarantee that clinical trials will be successful. Many vaccine candidates have undergone phase 3 trials but failed because they proved to be ineffective.
However, Saifudin argued that the development of a COVID-19 vaccine was one of the efforts made by many countries to stop the pandemic.
This is because many studies have shown that the antibodies formed after SARS-CoV-2 infection naturally do not last long and then disappear in 2-3 months.
If later the results of the Sinovac vaccine trial are successful in Indonesia, then it is included in the national immunization program, according to him, the continuity of the program will depend on sufficient vaccine supply. Therefore, he hopes that Indonesia can produce its own.
“Of course, it will be easier to ascertain if we are able to produce our own vaccines, compared to buying from foreign producers,” he said.
According to him, the technology for inactivated vaccines is already owned by PT. Biopharma. However, the mass production of the vaccine is of course awaiting the results of this phase three clinical trial.
“If this vaccine is proven to be effective and safe, then mass production can begin. It is just an agreement between Sinovac, the Indonesian government and PT Biofarma, how much of the vaccine will be produced by Biofarma,” he said. *
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Reporter: Luqman Hakim
Editor: Erafzon Saptiyulda AS
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