UNAIR NEWS – After going through a long journey, the Red and White Vaccine has finally entered the clinical trial stage. The vaccine, developed by Airlangga University, PT Biotis Pharmaceuticals Indonesia, and the Dr. Soetomo Regional General Hospital (RSUD), conducted the first phase of clinical trials on Wednesday, February 9, 2022.
To commemorate the event, a clinical trial of the Red and White vaccine ceremony was conducted in RSUD Dr Soetomo on Wednesday, February 2, 2022. The ceremony was attended by the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, Prof Dr Muhadjir Effendy, M.A.P., the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia Ir. Budi Gunadi Sadikin (online), Governor of East Java Khofifah Indar Parawansa and Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda) of East Java, Rector of UNAIR Professor Nasih, and officials from the Dr Soetomo Hospital management.
At the event, which was held together with charity for orphans, the attendees hoped that the nation-pride vaccine will provide solutions to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. During his speech, Professor Nasih said that the Red and White vaccine was projected as the nation-pride, halal-certified vaccine.
“It’s the first-ever halal-certified Covid-19 vaccine. The halal certification will be valid from February 7, 2022 to February 6, 2026,” Professor Nasih said.
Professor Nasih said that, though they were ready for phase I and II clinical trials, it is going to be a long journey to get the Red and White vaccine ready to distribute. “We need cooperation from all parties. Therefore, we request for your immense support and cooperation so that the Red and White vaccine can contribute well to handling the pandemic,” he explained.”
Corresponding to the statement, Ir. Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that aside from booster and children’s vaccines, he also encouraged the production of the only vaccine initiative at domestic level that will undergo three stages, as an international vaccine donation.
“The president is willing to use the vaccine as a donation from Indonesia to other countries,” he said.
Being halal-certified, the Red and White vaccine was expected to reach the whole community, including Muslim populated countries. “So the vaccine can reach in local and global level,” he added.
To achieve the goal, the Health Ministry emphasized that post clinical trial, the vaccine should be immediately registered at the global level. “Before being globally distributed, the Red and White vaccine must go through the registration process first thing at the World Health Organization (WHO) and get an international listing,” said the West Java-born man.
On the other hand, Governor Khofifah supported the acceleration of the clinical trial of the Red and White vaccine, from the first phase to the third phase. “We’re proud of UNAIR’s commitment in contributing the best for the country,” she commended.
Previously, the long journey of the Red and White vaccine started from the animal clinical trial in the beginning until the middle of 2021. It was followed by a Comorbid macaque and old adult pre-clinical trial process in July and August 2021. In September 2021, another pre-clinical trial process on young macacas was conducted, while the last trial was conducted on baby Macacas and pregnant macacas in October 2021.
Following the Dies Natalis of Universitas Airlangga in November 2021, the rector Professor Moh. Nasih handed over the Red and White vaccine seed to PT BIOTIS. Tremendous support for finalizing the Red and White vaccine came from many parties, including the Health Minister and the Governor of East Java.
Author: Nuri Hermawan
