Workers unload boxes of the Sinovac Biotech Ltd. coronavirus vaccine at the DKI Jakarta Provincial Health Office in Jakarta, Indonesia, on January 7.
Photographer: Dimas Ardian / Bloomberg
Photographer: Dimas Ardian / Bloomberg
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Indonesia approved China Sinovac Biotech Ltd. injections for emergency use, paving the way for the biggest economy in Southeast Asia to start its inoculation program.
The Sinovac vaccine was found to be about 65% effective against Covid-19 in final stage tests in the city of Bandung, Penny Lukito, head of the food and drug regulator, said at a news conference on Monday. The regulator also considered data from clinical trials in Brazil and Turkey when making the decision, she said.
The vaccine is “largely safe,” said Lukito. “Bring hope to reduce Covid’s cases. “
Indonesia to start vaccines: Southeast Asia vaccine tracker
Emergency use authorization is the first for the Sinovac vaccine outside of China. In Brazil, the tests in the final stage showed a 78% effectiveness rate. The vaccine was effective in preventing mild cases of the virus and 100% effective against severe and moderate infections, according to the Brazilian government.
Indonesia is struggling to contain the worst coronavirus outbreak in Southeast Asia, with its positive rate exceeding 31% on Monday, in an insufficient test signal. The World Health Organization recommends keeping the index below 5%.
President Joko Widodo is due to receive the first chance on January 13, along with social media influencers and religious leaders. Indonesia needs to boost confidence in the vaccine among its population of 270 million to contain the outbreak that has already infected more than 830,000 people.
The Ulema Council of Indonesia declared that Covid-19 vaccines are halal and clean and can be used by Muslims according to the guidelines of the competent authorities. Sinovac dispatched 3 million doses to the country, which plans to inoculate 181.5 million people by March 2022.
(Updates with halal declaration in the last paragraph.)