TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Trial Research Team from the University of Padjadjaran recorded that some 20 volunteers of the Sinovac vaccine trial in Bandung developed a minor illness. Less than five other volunteers also fell ill and are hospitalized.

“So far, it is found that the illnesses are not associated with the vaccine,” said the research team manager, Eddy Fadlyana, on Wednesday, November 11, 2020.

According to Eddy, there must be one or two volunteers who are reported to get sick, such as cold or cough every day. Some of them even experienced recurrent hypertension, typhus, rheumatism, and abdominal pain.

However, like other people, they visit the community health center (Puskesmas) or a doctor. “Unless there is a volunteer who is hospitalized for serious disease, so the person will be monitored for 24 hours,” he explained.

Eddy reiterated that his team immediately reports to the ethics committee and research sponsors including Bio Farma, if there is a trial volunteer who is hospitalized. The team will then carry out studies based on the doctor’s notes, laboratory examinations, and X-rays results.

While the patient is treated for about three to four days, he went on, all data are collected for review. “Based on the expert team’s analysis, it is concluded that their illness has nothing to do with the Sinovac vaccine,” Eddy remarked.

If the cause of the illness could not be determined, the COVID-19 vaccination trial could be temporarily suspended. “In Bandung, the results [of patients’ illness] are not associated with the vaccine, so we continue [the trial],” said Eddy.

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ANWAR SISWADI