TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo has commended the research done by Eijkman Institute of Molecular Biology which discovered the seven genomes for the development of the COVID-19 vaccine. As such, Jokowi has called for the research to be continued, in order to secure Indonesia’s own vaccine for the pandemic.

“We also need to be able to produce our own vaccine. I am glad that the Eijkman Institute has obtained data on 7 complete genome sequences of viruses that are very useful for the development of the vaccine," Jokowi said in the Presidential Secretariat’s Youtube channel, on Wednesday, May 20, 2020.

In addition, Jokowi also communicated his appreciation towards the research community for continuously working towards the COVID-19 vaccine and medication therapy. In spite of this, Jokowi asked the research community to develop their work, not only stopping at a prototype or lab result.

"It must be mass-produced to meet our domestic needs and to be exported abroad," Jokowi said.

In line with the commemoration of Indonesia’s National Awakening Day, Jokowi conveyed his optimism that Indonesia can remain independent in developing products geared to handle the COVID-19 pandemic, including the vaccine.

DEWI NURITA | DIUO SUHENDA (INTERN TRANSLATOR)