COVID-19 Vaccine Trial; West Java Leaders All Set to Volunteer

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil on Monday announced that he, along with the leaders joined under the West Java Regional Leadership Communication Forum (Forkopimda), are all set to register as volunteers for the COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial. 

“We, the regional leaders, are mulling over it. Should our personal health condition pose no problems, Forkominda will be volunteers for the vaccine trials,” said Kamil in a press conference on August 3.

This move, according to Ridwan Kamil, is the initiative of the region’s leaders to build public trust toward the COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial committed by state-owned pharmaceutical firm Bio Farma in partnership with China’s Sinovac Biotech as the vaccine’s provider. 

“If the leaders join the cause, InshaAllah (God permits) the people will also believe that the process will run smoothly,” Kamil added. “We need 1,100 more volunteers. So we call on those who have reached the age requirement of 20 to 59 years old to join.”

The third phase of the Sinovac vaccine clinical trials are expected to last up to six months until the end of 2020. With roughly 500 volunteers in hand, the team of researchers is still in need for more volunteers willing to be tested. If the process runs smoothly, experts are eyeing to distribute the vaccine in-mass in early 2021.

Read also: Ridwan Kamil Reay to Volunteer for Sinovac COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Trial 

ANTARA