TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Health Ministry’s spokesperson for the Covid-19 vaccination Siti Nadia Tarmizi said on Wednesday that the second phase of vaccination in Indonesia uses the Sinovac-based raw materials developed further by Bio Farma as the complete vial import versions have been used up entirely before its expiration date.

Nadia explains that the vaccines currently used have a different physical appearance compared to the fully-imported Sinovac vials from China.

“The packaging is different from the first version. They are in vials but [the current larger ones] can be used for 9-11 people with half a cc,” she announced on the Health Ministry’s website on March 17.

The ministry also assures that the previous version of the Sinovac complete vaccine imports are no longer available for use.

This statement was issued after there were rumors suggesting that the 3 million doses - imported in two batches - of completely built-up Sinovac vaccines imported in December are entering its expiration dates. She denies this and said it isn’t expired but has entered its shelf life limit.

She explains that the shelf life of the first complete Sinovac vaccine vials have a shelf life until March 25 (the first batch) and May of 2021 (for the second import batch). Nadia maintains that the two have been used up for the first phase of vaccinations for healthcare workers and public service workers.

Read: Sinovac Covid-19 Vaccine Expired in March 2021; Researcher Clarifies

DEWI NURITA