RMOLBANTEN. Edward invented the first vaccine in 1796 to treat smallpox (smallpox). Since then vaccines have continued to be developed because they are recognized and proven to prevent diseases caused by certain viruses or bacteria.
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The vaccine itself is an antigen or active substance on viruses and bacteria when injected. Can cause a reaction of the immune system to fight the virus or disease.
“So if the vaccine is the substance. The process of inserting it into the body is called vaccination,” said Professor Cissy Rachiana Sudjana, Professor of the Faculty of Medicine, Padjadjaran University in a press statement, Saturday (21/11).
Immunization, said CIssy, is the body’s reaction after getting the vaccine. The body will be stimulated to form anti-bodies in the immune system. In addition to anti-body, the body will produce memory cells. “So, our immune system can produce antibodies for all kinds of bad diseases,” he explained.
The impact of immunization on reducing disease transmission was recorded to be very large. Several vaccines have succeeded in suppressing the spread of certain diseases such as haemophilus influenza, pneumonia, mumps, rubella, and typhus. All of these diseases have decreased in number, along with immunization.
The public also does not need to doubt the safety of vaccines. Vaccine safety guarantees are continuously carried out at each phase of clinical trials, so that the final product is confirmed to be safe, effective and efficacious. In the early stages, the vaccine manufacturer first identifies the vaccine candidate to be made.
The selected vaccine candidates are those that are able to produce the best antibody substances. When it is safe and produces strong antibody substances, especially in pre-clinical trials that are tested on animals, then the testing is continued to clinical trials in humans.
The human clinical trial phase is divided into three stages. Phase I is intended to test its safety and effectiveness. As well as testing the immune response in a group of people with a number below 100. When phase I is safe and effective, then it is continued to phase II to test its safety and efficacy further in the number of subjects 400-600 people.
“If phase II is safe, you can continue to phase III to find out if there are rare side effects that usually appear when tested on a number of subjects that include thousands or tens of thousands of people. After going through phase III clinical trials and there are no side effects, then the vaccine is determined to be safe, effective, and efficacious, “explained Cissy.
Furthermore, Cissy explained, in phase III, vaccine testing is usually carried out in several countries (multi centers). Its function is to measure its effectiveness and efficacy. Efficacy is an observational step to determine the amount of vaccine protection against infection.
After passing through these phases, the regulator, in this case BPOM in Indonesia, can issue a distribution permit after studying the clinical trial data. Vaccine safety surveys continue to be carried out including once the vaccine has been officially used. This is called Phase IV or the Post Marketing Study.
Unlike other vaccines whose development takes years, the Covid-19 vaccine is relatively short in development, around 12-18 months. Because it has received permission from scientists and regulators. To streamline testing, the phase I and II clinical trials were carried out simultaneously but still prioritizing safety factors.
Besides immunization is important to prevent disease, disability, and even death, it can also prevent disease transmission to the wider social environment. This concept is called herd immunity or population immunity. Namely when most of the population is immunized. The amount of coverage depends on the ability to transmit viruses or bacteria. The faster it is transmitted, the more it requires a large coverage.
“So if a lot of people around us are immunized, they can’t get immunized because of various reasons, such as illness, too young to be immunized, or not getting access to vaccines, so they are protected,” said Cissy.
For Covid-19, it is estimated that the speed of transmission or Reproductive Number (Ro) reaches 2 to 5 times. With such a transmissibility, Covid-19 immunization must reach 60-70 percent of the population in order to create herd immunity.
“I hope all people, especially the media, can provide education, to educate our people that vaccines are the most effective way to reduce morbidity, mortality and disability. The cost is also the most cost effective. We do it for Indonesia, hopefully our children can be healthy by immunization in accordance with the provisions, “said Cissy. [tsr]
