Eijkman Expert Encourages Against Being Picky with Covid-19 Vaccines

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia’s high number of Covid-19 cases along with its mortality rate has somewhat stigmatized the Coronavac vaccines from Sinovac that is widely used in the country’s mass-vaccination. 

The decisions taken by a number of countries arguing against its efficacy in its policies, opposing its use, and lack of acknowledgement also did not help the vaccine’s reputation. Especially after a peer-reviewed study on Sinovac shots showed a decline in its efficacy six months after receiving the second dose, however, Chinese authorities have suggested a booster shot would be a solution.

Head of the Eijkman Institute of Molecular Biology, Amin Soebandrio, on Sunday explained that there are currently no Covid-19 vaccines considered superior to the other. “I would just like to say that from every vaccine available, none of them are perfect,” he said on August 1.

He argues that presented efficacy statistics does not equate to commendable efficacy in the field. Soebandrio asserts that a vaccine may have a great efficacy level in a lab but may not retain the same efficacy once it is injected to a person.

The clinical microbiology professor argues that efficacy levels are generally lower than what it is claimed to be. “So if an efficacy is claimed at 90 percent, for example, its efficacy can be 80-70 percent, so there will be reductions.”

Soebandrio called for people not to be picky in choosing a Covid-19 vaccine as the whole world is racing to vaccinate the population and reach herd immunity against the speed of mutation from the SARS-CoV-2.

“If there is a chance to be vaccinated, just accept it, don’t choose between A, B, or C brand Covid-19 vaccines,” he insists. 

Read: Jakarta's New COVID-19 Cases Today Drop to 1,410

MOH KHORY ALFARIZI