TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State-owned pharmaceutical firm PT Kalbe Farma offered a collaborative program to companies in Genexine Vaccine clinical trials for their employees. Kalbe Farma explained there were four benefits participants would receive, including early access to the Covid-19 vaccine.

“Because if we wait [for vaccines] from the government, [companies] may not have the opportunity to get vaccines sooner,” said Kalbe Farma's Medical Senior Manager Esther Kristiningrum in a discussion with the Indonesian Employers' Association (APINDO) on Wednesday, July 21.

Companies joining the program will also get routine health checks and monitoring services carried out by the research team, transportation fee for six visits, and employees getting a placebo injection will still receive a vaccine shot after the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) grants the permission.

Genexine vaccine or GX-19N is a vaccine candidate developed by Kalbe Farma with South Korea-based firm Genexine. The Health Ministry had tapped the vaccine to be used in the archipelago after it obtains the BPOM’s permit.

Based on the early research in Korea, Esther explained, the vaccine was relatively safe and effective in enhancing the immunological response to Covid-19. “It will also be examined in Indonesia later,” she said.

According to Esther, the Covid-19 vaccine will be clinically tested in phase 2b/3 in various countries, including Indonesia. The clinical trials will be located in Greater Jakarta (Jabodetabek), Yogyakarta, Klaten, and Solo.

Read: Kalbe Farma to Launch Covid-19 Vaccine Clinical Trials in June

FAJAR PEBRIANTO