Health Ministry 'Guarantees' Safety of AstraZeneca Vaccines

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Health Deputy Minister, Dante Saksono, on Monday assured the public about the safety of AstraZeneca vaccines in the country’s mass-vaccination program. He implies that the vaccine made by the British-Swedish pharmaceutical firm has been used to vaccinate more than one billion people globally producing effective results.

“AstraZeneca has been used by more than one billion people worldwide and is proven to be effective,” said Dante Laksono on Monday, May 24.

Saksono assures that the benefits from the vaccine product is nearly identical with other vaccine brands also used in Indonesia’s vaccination, despite showing slightly higher post immunization accidents (KIPI) than others. 

He urged AstraZeneca vaccine recipients to report back to health authorities once a KIPI scenario occurs. “We have evaluated the KIPI to each individual who was immunized,” said the Health Deputy Minister. 

The Health Ministry is currently discussing the minimum age for the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine alongside Itagi and the national commission for post immunization accidents (Komnas KIPI).

This vaccine is also being used to vaccinate companion volunteers for victims of violence, women, and children that was facilitated by the Women Empowerment and Children Protection Ministry (KPPPA).

Also Read: Indonesia Suspends Use of One Batch of AstraZeneca Vaccine

ANTARA