TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Head of Bengkulu's Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM), Arnold Sianipar, said that Bengkulu's BPOM officers have found and confiscated batches of suspected counterfeit tetanus vaccines in Seluma Regency. According to Sianipar, the confiscation were done after several samples - taken from several distributors in the area - were tested by the Agency.
"Our preliminary testing suggests that the vaccines are counterfeits," said Sianipar on Wednesday, June 29, 2016. "That said, we are conducting further laboratory testing to support our preliminary findings."
According to Sianipar, the vaccines distributors in Seluma Regency acquired the vaccines - which are marketed as Biosat 1.5 - from a major distributor based in Palembang, South Sumatra. BPOM officers were ticked when they found out that the vaccines were sold to the public for a significantly lower price, that its' recommended retail price.
The recommended retail price for a batch of 10 tetanus shots is Rp158.125 - as printed on the label of the vaccines. That said, distributors in Seluma bought the vaccines at Rp 80.000 per batch - after which they would re-distribute at Rp 120.000 per batch. "In addition to the significantly lower prices, the label on the packaging is also suspiciously different," said Sianipar.
As a result, continued Arnold, Bengkulu's BPOM has retracted and confiscated all of the tetanus vaccines from distributors across Bengkulu - and that further testing will be carried out as currently, only samples from 49 distributors have been taken for testing from the regencies of North Bengkulu, Central Bengkulu, Seluma, and the City of Bengkulu.
"We have sent these samples to a laboratory in Jakarta - and if proven to be fakes, then serious actions will be taken," said Sianipar.
As testing on the samples have yet to be completed, Sianipar said that BPOM cannot exactly pinpoint and explain the effects of the counterfeit vaccines have on the recipient. "Most likely, the recipient won't gain any additional immunity from tetanus," he said.
BPOM also advises the public to exercise extra caution on purchasing and consuming prescription medications - in light of the recent cases. "Take a closer look on its' packaging - if it differs from its' usual packaging, then it is probably for the best to refrain from consuming it," said Sianipar. "Also, it is much safer to take prescription medications from trusted doctors and healthcare facilities."
PHESI ESTER JULIKAWATI
