5 Facts Surrounding the Sinovac - Bio Farma Vaccine Partnership

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Following the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine from Sinovac Biotech in Indonesia, questions have arisen regarding the partnership between the Chinese company and Indonesia’s state-owned pharmaceutical holding company, Bio Farma.

1. Establishing the partnership 

According to the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s acting spokesperson, Teuku Faizasyah, the partnership between Sinovac Biotech and Bio Farma is in the context of “vaccine diplomacy” between both governments for a short term period.  

2. Handed to Bio Farma 

The foreign affairs ministry also announced that the vaccine has been handed over to Bio Farma and that the government’s sole role is to facilitate the partnership.

3. Short term partnership 

The foreign affairs ministry noted that the Indonesian government had pursued a number of partnerships prior to the one with Sinovac. Indonesia has also approached the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Cepi) which is based in Norway. In the long run, a national vaccine will eventually be managed by a national consortium.

“The partnership with Sinovac Biotech is currently the most advanced. Indonesia is involved in the third phase of clinical trials,” said Teuku. 

4. Vaccines not yet ready for production

The COVID-19 vaccines the will later be tested are not yet ready for production as the Bio Farma plans to work closely to establish the third clinical trial with the Padjadjaran University and the Health Ministry’s Health Research and Development Agency (Balitbangkes)

5. Clinical trial scheduled in August 

Bio Farma will start the third phase trial of the vaccine in August this year and plans to mass-produce it in 2021 after it undergoes a six-month clinical trial period with a maximum production capacity of 250 million doses.

Read also: Bio Farma to Run Clinical Trials on Sinovac COVID-19 Vaccine

MUHAMMAD HENDARTYO