Indonesia does not have a shortage of
vaccines because state-owned pharmaceutical company PT. Bio Farma produces
sufficient vaccines for the country, Health Minister Nila Farida Moeloek
insists.
“Bio Farma has enough stock to exports
vaccine to 130 countries, so the quality of vaccines available locally does not
need to be questioned,” Nila said, adding that some private hospitals also
received import vaccines from pharmaceutical companies such as GlaxoSmithKline,
Sanofi, Pfizer and MSD.
“Private hospitals can request vaccine stocks
from us, however, we can’t prevent them from importing vaccines from other
countries,” Nila said.
Based on investigation findings, only
imported vaccines are known to have been faked in the recent vaccine scam
scandal. Most of the fake vaccines are reported to have been Pediacel and
Tripacel.
Pediacel is a combination vaccine designed to
ward off diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio and Hib (Haemophilus influenzae
type b). Locally, the vaccine is divided into three; DPT (diphtheria, pertussis
and tetanus), polio and Hib. Tripacel contains the DPT vaccine.
Bio Farma manufactured vaccines are the same
quality as imported vaccines. It is just the ingredients of both vaccines that
are different, meaning that the local vaccine has increased potential to cause
patients to experience a slight fever, Nila explained.
Bio Farma still cannot produce vaccines for
rabies, chicken pox and hepatitis. Therefore, the government is required to
import some vaccines.
Admitting to negligence over the recent
vaccine scandal, the Heath Ministry have vowed to evaluate regulation
implementation, procedure, socialization and monitoring so that cases involving
fake vaccines will not reoccur in future.
Callistasia Anggun Wijaya
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