Bio Farma Seeks to Partner with Sinopharm, Moderna for Private Vaccinations

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A spokesperson for state-owned pharmaceutical firm Bio Farma, Bambang Heriyanto, said on Friday that the firm was currently seeking to partner with Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinopharm and United States’ Moderna for Indonesia’s private vaccination program entitled the Gotong Royong Vaccination. 

“BioFarma is currently seeking talks with vaccine suppliers, but this has to be differentiated from the government’s vaccination program,” said Bambang in a press conference on February 26. 

According to Bambang, China’s Sinopharm has a vaccine that is developed using the same platform as Sinovac, which the government is currently using for its first phase of vaccinations, and will be procured by the firm’s holding, Kimia Farma. 

Meanwhile, Moderna was chosen as a potential provider for the private vaccinations due to its use of mRNA technology. 

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has officially issued a new regulation overseeing private vaccinations dubbed the Gotong Royong (mutual cooperation) Vaccination in the Health Ministry Regulation No.10/2021. 

The Gotong Royong Vaccination is basically a private vaccination given to people for free with companies paying for the expenses. The Health Ministry Regulation states that employees, families, and other individuals related to COVID-19 vaccine recipients will receive the vaccine for free.

Read: Bio Farma Prepares 11.4 Mn Doses for COVID-19 Vaccination Phase Two

FRISKI RIANA