Expert Addresses Indonesia's Plan to Produce Russia's Sputnik V Vaccine

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia and Russia are reportedly exploring a partnership in the production of the Sputnik V vaccine. Amin Soebandrio, head of the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, said that the collaboration had actually been planned and discussed for quite some time now.

"The plan to use Russia's Sputnik V vaccine had been discussed before, but that was quite a while ago," he told Tempo on July 7. 

Indonesia and Russia are finalizing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on health cooperation to produce the vaccine. The Indonesian Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) head, Penny Lukito, has visited Russia to see firsthand the Sputnik V vaccine production facility.

Amin said that Eijkman welcomes the partnership. He said that if the vaccine had been developed and approved, then it could be used.

"Moreover, it has met the requirements of BPOM and the Ministry of Health," he said.

According to Amin, the basis for the Russian Sputnik V vaccine is a viral vector that uses an adenovirus.

Yesterday, Indonesia's Home Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said that the MoU with Russia will serve as a foundation for partnerships in the health sector, both for the medium and long term. "All cooperation will follow guidelines from health authorities of the two countries, as well as the World Health Organization."

Read also: Indonesia, Russia to Jointly Produce Sputnik V Vaccine

MOH KHORY ALFARIZI