Digital Desk In Indonesia, the drug regulatory authority has given the green light to test its own Covid-19(homegrown) vaccine on humans following an increase in viral cases
According to reports, research on the "Merah Putih" vaccine (Red White) is led by Airlangga University along with Biotis Pharmaceutical Indonesia.
The project was expected to complete by 2020 but it has suffered delays due to legal permissions to try it in humans, but authorities are now hoping to authorize its use by the middle of 2022 if the trials are successful.
The Health Minister of Indonesia, Budi Gunadi Sadikin informed the media that the vaccine is ready to be transferred to other countries as a booster jab or as a vaccine for children aged three to six.
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The first and second phases of the clinical trials will involve 90 and 405 adult volunteers respectively.
Moreover, the Health Minister also mentioned that The ‘Merah Putih’ vaccine has been granted a "halal" certification from the Indonesian Ulema Council, the Muslim majority nation's top religious clerics body, according to the dean of Airlangga University Mohammad Nasih, resulting in an increase in public confidence to use the vaccine after the necessary permissions to be given by the Indonesian government.
Indonesia has approved 13 vaccines and boosters but has primarily used the Chinese-made jabs, and has struggled to procure enough doses for its population of more than 270 million people.
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