After going through a long process, the red and white vaccine has finally entered the clinical trial stage. The vaccine made by Universitas Airlangga, PT Biotis Pharmaceuticals Indonesia and Dr. Soetomo Regional General Hospital (RSUD) was carried out in the first phase of clinical trials on Wednesday, February 9, 2022.

To mark the process, a red and white vaccine clinical trial ceremony was held at Dr. Soetomo Hospital on Wednesday (9/2). The event was attended by Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia Muhadjir Effendy, Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia Budi Gunadi Sadikin who attended online, East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa and East Java Forkopimda, UNAIR Rector Nasih and his staff, Director General of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Lucia Rizka Andalusia, as well as from PT Biotis Pharmaceuticals Indonesia and officials at Dr. Soetomo Hospital.

In the event, which was packaged with orphan donation activities, all parties present hoped that the vaccine, which is the pride of the Indonesian nation, could truly be a solution to the COVID-19 pandemic. In his remarks, UNAIR Rector Nasih said that the red and white vaccine has been projected as a national vaccine product with halal certification. "This vaccine will be the first halal COVID-19 vaccine. The halal certificate will be valid from February 7, 2022 to February 6, 2026," explained Nasih.

Meanwhile, Nasih also mentioned that even though it is ready for phase I and II clinical trials, he ensures that the journey of the red and white vaccine will be very steep in order to achieve ready-to-edistribute status. "We need cooperation from all parties. Therefore, we ask for continued support and cooperation so that the red and white vaccine can contribute to the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic," he explained.

The Rector of Unair also said that the clinical trial of the red and white vaccine will be carried out in three stages. "The first stage will be attended by 90 participants, the second stage by 400 volunteers, and the third stage is planned to be attended by 5,000 volunteers," said Nasih. The results of each stage will be evaluated as material for improvement for the next stage. "So the third stage depends on how the first and second stages are evaluated later," he explained. 

Nasih explained that clinical trials are a stage that must be passed after the red and white vaccine undergoes pre-clinical trials on animals. "The pre-clinical test of the vaccine on Makaka animals previously had good results," he said. Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy who was also present said that the red and white vaccine received serious attention from President Joko Widodo. "This vaccine production is a super priority program from President Joko Widodo to lead to vaccine independence for Indonesia," he explained.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Minister of Health said that apart from being a booster and childhood vaccine, his party also encourages the only domestic vaccine initiative production that undergoes three stages, as an international donation vaccine. "The President is willing to use this as a donation vaccine from the Republic of Indonesia, especially as chairman of the G20, to other countries in need," he said.

Not only that, with its halal certification, the red and white vaccine is expected to cover the entire population, including countries with Muslim populations. "So that way it is not only locally, but also internationally," he said.

To achieve this goal, the Minister of Health emphasized that after conducting clinical trials, the red and white vaccine must immediately carry out a global scale registration process. "Before being circulated internationally, the red and white vaccine must first undergo a registration process at the World Health Organization (WHO) and obtain an international listing," said the Minister of Health.

Meanwhile, Governor Khofifah on that occasion expressed her support for the acceleration of clinical trials of the red and white vaccine from the first to the third phase. "We are proud of Unair, which has a strong commitment to giving the best for the country," she said.

Previously, the long journey of the red and white vaccine began with the Animal Trial process in early to mid-2021. Furthermore, the pre-clinical trial process for comorbid macaca and old adults in July and August 2021. Young adult and adolescent macaca pre-clinical trials in September 2021. Pediatric and pregnant macaca pre-clinical trials in October 2021. Furthermore, in November 2021 to coincide with the Anniversary of Universitas Airlangga, UNAIR Rector handed over the red and white vaccine seeds to PT Biotis. From this, support for the process of completing the red and white vaccine flowed from many parties, such as the Indonesian Minister of Health and the Governor of East Java.