Indonesia is actively engaged in discussions with several African countries, including Nigeria, to explore the possibility of exporting and donating its domestically developed COVID-19 vaccine. This initiative comes following Indonesia’s milestone as the first Southeast Asian nation to approve a locally produced COVID vaccine. It is important to note that while the vaccine, known as Indovac, has received approval, detailed trial data has not been officially disclosed yet. Additionally, Indovac primarily targets coronavirus variants that predate the Omicron variant. Nevertheless, this approval marks significant progress in vaccine research and reflects a reduced dependence on foreign vaccine technology.
Honesti Basyir, the CEO of the state-owned company Bio Farma, responsible for developing Indovac, stated, “With Indovac… it’s Indonesia’s opportunity to contribute.” This development follows the vaccine’s regulatory approval by Indonesia’s drug regulator, BPOM, last month. Furthermore, Bio Farma has submitted documentation to the World Health Organization (WHO) seeking an Emergency Use Listing (EUL) approval for IndoVac. Such approval would enable donations through global vaccine-sharing initiatives like COVAX.
In the interim, Indonesia is actively exploring the option of vaccine exports. Honesti noted, “This doesn’t rule out the possibility of us exporting, as long as BPOM’s approval aligns with local regulatory requirements.” Nonetheless, the primary focus remains on vaccinating the Indonesian population.
It’s worth noting that the potential for vaccine exports may be constrained due to a global oversupply of COVID vaccines, compounded by the fact that Indovac is not specifically designed to target the dominant Omicron variant.
It is pertinent to acknowledge that African nations initially encountered difficulties in securing COVID vaccines during the early stages of the pandemic, owing to the stockpiling practices of wealthier countries. However, many of these countries now possess sufficient vaccine supplies and are confronted with challenges related to vaccine distribution, encompassing issues such as hesitancy and logistical hurdles.
IndoVac, developed in collaboration with the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development at Baylor College of Medicine, is available as a primary vaccination option for adults in Indonesia. Honesti has also mentioned that research has commenced to create an Omicron-targeted version of the vaccine. This successful vaccine development has instilled confidence in Indonesia’s ability to reduce its reliance on foreign vaccine technologies.
Bio Farma has outlined plans to produce 20 million doses of IndoVac this year, subject to alignment with the government’s vaccination strategy. Indonesia has achieved full vaccination for over 63% of its population of 270 million, utilizing vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, and Sinovac Biotech.
Honesti disclosed that Bio Farma ceased production of Sinovac’s vaccine last year and is not presently pursuing additional supplies from the Chinese company, as the organization shifts its focus towards IndoVac.
