InaVac Gets Emergency Approval From BPOM

Redaksi    Thursday, November 10, 2022    Comment   

InaVac Gets Emergency Approval From BPOM

InaVac Gets Emergency Approval From BPOM.

Surabaya - The Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) has issued emergency use authorization (EUA) for InaVac, a COVID-19 vaccine developed by researchers from Airlangga University (Unair).

"InaVac has obtained emergency use authorization from BPOM and will be mass-produced," the rector of Unair, Prof. Moh. Nasih, said on the sidelines of the campus' dies natalis (anniversary) on Wednesday .

The vaccine, which can be used to prevent a COVID-19 infection, has been made using an inactivated virus, which means, a virus that cannot reproduce and cause disease.

InaVac has been approved for use as a primary vaccine for people aged 18 and above for boosting immunity levels.

According to Nasih, the vaccine was developed as part of an effort by the university to significantly contribute to and impact the health sector.

Following the provision of EUA from BPOM, he expressed his gratitude to various stakeholders that have supported the development of the vaccine.

"Thank you to the Ministry of Health for providing support in the form of large amounts of funding; the provincial government has also provided extraordinary support," he remarked.

"Dr. Soetomo Hospital has also been very supportive. Equally important has been the role of Unair researchers who worked hard for this," he added.

Former state-owned enterprises minister Dahlan Iskan also expressed his pleasure over the completion of the domestically-made COVID-19 vaccine.

"I am happy because Unair has processed this vaccine to completion. How this vaccine was successfully launched, how to find people who want to undergo the vaccine. Finding people who are willing to be clinically tested is extremely difficult.. but Unair managed to finish it," he said.

It is hoped that after InaVac, more vaccines will be produced through continued research and development so that they can answer future challenges and problems.

Unair is currently developing a booster vaccine and a COVID-19 vaccine for children.

"The news about vaccines has been very encouraging; hopefully, later booster vaccines and children can be produced," he said.

Pewarta : Yashinta Difa Pramudyani/Antara

Editor : Yakop

Association Suggests BPOM To Mandate Industry To Self-inspect Products

Redaksi    Sunday, October 30, 2022    Comment   

Association Suggests BPOM To Mandate Industry To Self-inspect Products

Illustration - The Association of Indonesian Doctors for the Development of Traditional and Herbal Medicine (PDPOTJI) recommends the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) mandate industries to self-inspect their products in terms of safety from diethylene glycol contamination. (Pixabay)

Jakarta - The Association of Indonesian Doctors for the Development of Traditional and Herbal Medicine (PDPOTJI) has recommended that BPOM mandate pharmaceutical industries to independently conduct the safety examination of their products including the solvents.

"The pharmaceutical industries are also requested to carry out periodic self-examinations on the finished products," Chairperson of PDPOTJI, Inggrid Tania, said in the webinar on "The Science, Safety & Efficacy of Traditional Herbal Potions (Jamu) for Children & Adults" here on Sunday.

She suggested that the independent examination of products comply with the inspection standards set by the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) to detect the presence of diethylene glycol contamination in syrup medicinal products.

According to her, a similar recommendation has also been given by Pakistan's food and drug authority in responding to the cases of kidney failure in Gambia, West Africa, and Indonesia.

"Giving warnings to every industry, society and health workers. Other countries which have not reported cases of acute kidney failure have taken anticipatory steps," she said.

In Indonesia, the number of kidney failure cases in children reached 269 on October 26, 2022. The World Health Organization (WHO) has determined this as an epidemic of poisoning, as the one in Gambia.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health suspected that the investigation of kidney failure causes has led to drug poisoning.

Tania suggested that the government provide alternatives such as the administration of puyer, or medicines in the form of powder, or suppositoria, a medication that is inserted through the anus.

"For example, Paracetamol is ground into powder and given to children. The taste is bitter even though sugar is added," she said.

However, she cautioned that not all drugs can be ground into puyer, such as mixing Paracetamol and decongestant.

PDPOTJI also issued a recommendation for safe herbal potions for children as an alternative to fever treatment and cold and cough relievers.

This herbal concoction has a relatively good taste and is cheap and its ingredients are easy to find, Tania informed.

Oleh : Lia S, Kenzu/Antara

Editor : Yakop

Indonesia Records 1,005 Additional Active COVID-19 Cases

Redaksi    Saturday, October 29, 2022    Comment   

Indonesia Records 1,005 Additional Active COVID-19 Cases

Indonesia Records 1,005 Additional Active COVID-19 Cases.

Jakarta - The number of active COVID-19 cases in Indonesia increased by 1,005 on Saturday to touch 23,748, the COVID-19 Handling Task Force reported.

With 3,141 fresh infections added per day, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases recorded in the country since March 2020 has reached 6,487,905.

The number of deaths climbed by 27 on Saturday, bringing the national death toll from the virus to 158,571.

Meanwhile, the number of recoveries increased by 2,109 to bring the total count to 6,305.586 nationwide.

Jakarta contributed the highest number of recoveries on Saturday at 852, followed by East Java (336), Banten (270), West Java (202), and Central Java (101).

Jakarta also contributed the most additional active cases at 1,041, followed by East Java (473), West Java (401), Central Java (246), and Banten (234).

Meanwhile, the highest number of deaths was recorded in Central Java at 8, followed by East Java (4), Jakarta (3), and South Sulawesi (3).

According to the task force, the total number of suspected patients reached 4,985 and the number of specimens examined touched 49,982 on Saturday.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has shown no signs of abating, the government has called on the public to follow the health protocols, including wearing masks and washing hands with running water.

Earlier, the Health Ministry appealed to citizens to get the booster vaccine soon as part of preparations for the COVID-19 endemic phase. 

Oleh : Martha HM, Suharto

Editor : Yakop

Recorded 1,210 Additional Active Of Active Infections To 22,743 In Indonesia

Redaksi    Friday, October 28, 2022    Comment   

Recorded 1,210 Additional Active Of Active Infections To 22,743 In Indonesia

Recorded 1,210 Additional Active Of Active Infections To 22,743 In Indonesia.

Jakarta - The COVID-19 Handling Task Force recorded 1,210 additional active cases in the country on Friday, taking the total tally of active infections to 22,743.

Meanwhile, the total number of suspected patients examined in the country reached 4,816.

Jakarta contributed the largest number of new cases on Friday at 1,007, followed by West Java (448 cases), East Java (391), Central Java (257), and Banten (222).

With 3,015 fresh infections added per day, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases recorded in the country since March 2020 has reached 6,484,764.

The figure is based on the daily testing of 59,933 specimens at laboratories and medical facilities across Indonesia.

Meanwhile, the number of recoveries also increased by 1,783 on Friday to bring the total count to 6,303,477 nationwide.

The highest recovery rate was recorded in Jakarta at 714, followed by East Java (367), West Java (220), and Central Java (145).

Further, the number of deaths climbed by 22 on Friday, bringing the national death toll from the virus to 158,544.

Of the latest deaths, seven were reported from Central Java; four from East Java; two from East Kalimantan and DI Yogyakarta each; and one from West Java, Bali, Central Sulawesi, West Nusa Tenggara, Lampung, and Bangka Belitung each.

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 8.96 percent, with the number of people using the PCR and antigen method pegged at 26.19 percent.

The Health Ministry reminded that 6,903 sequences of BA.4 subvariants have been reported through GSAID so far. The reports have come from 58 countries, with the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, South Africa, and Denmark accounting for the most reports.

It also urged people to be cautious of the spread of new variants of COVID-19 by always adhering to health protocols and wearing masks. 

Oleh : Fitra Ashari, Mecca Yumna/Antara

Editor : Yakop

Mental Health Problems Must Be Detected Early To Keep Them From Worsening

Redaksi    Friday, October 28, 2022    Comment   

Mental Health Problems Must Be Detected Early To Keep Them From Worsening

Mental Health Problems Must Be Detected Early To Keep Them From Worsening.

Jakarta - Mental health problems must be detected early to keep them from worsening, according to an official from the Jakarta Health Office.

"Mental health is often not visible; thus, we need to be active to detect (problems),” acting head of the non-communicable disease, mental health, and substance abuse section of the office, Ngabila Salama, said at a World Mental Health Day commemoration event on Friday.

According to her, collaboration between various stakeholders is needed to raise awareness about the need for early detection of mental health problems, especially in terms of conducting creative and massive promotions.

“So, we have to campaign more often so that when people or children have mild disorders such as getting tired quickly, losing interest, feeling lazy to go to work, lazy to go to school, experiencing palpitations, finding it hard to sleep, these early symptoms can be diagnosed immediately; take them to the experts, treat them immediately," she expounded.

She said that to support early detection, the Jakarta Health Office has integrated the E-Soul and Mental Friend services with the JaKi (Jakarta Kini) application.

Adults can carry out screening using the E-Soul service, she informed. While using the service, people are required to answer questions honestly.

If the results of the screening show that they have mental health problems, they can consult clinical psychologists online through the Mental Friend service.

"Our clinical psychologists at community health centers are ready to help," Salama affirmed.

She informed that currently, there are 23 community health centers in subdistricts that are offering psychological services. She expressed the hope that in the future, all community health centers in Jakarta will offer the services.

"We are currently making a circular for strengthening so that 44 subdistricts have clinical psychologists," she added.

The Health Office is also developing an E-Soul service for children, she said.

Oleh : Suci Nurhaliza, Raka Adji/Antara

Editor : Yakop

Asked Residents To Remain Vigilant To Prevent The Transmission Of The Xbb Sub-Variant Of Covid-19

Redaksi    Friday, October 28, 2022    Comment   

Asked Residents To Remain Vigilant To Prevent The Transmission Of The Xbb Sub-Variant Of Covid-19

Asked Residents To Remain Vigilant To Prevent The Transmission Of The Xbb Sub-Variant Of Covid-19.

Madiun, East Java - East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa has asked residents to remain vigilant and strictly follow health protocols to prevent the transmission of the XBB sub-variant of COVID-19, following the detection of one case in the province.

"I have asked the head of the East Java Health Office, the Institute of Tropical Disease of Airlangga University, and following the information from Mr. Health Minister on Wednesday (October 26, 2022) that one case of the Omicron XBB sub-variant has been (found) in East Java," Parawansa informed here on Friday.

The results of genomic sequencing have shown one confirmed case of the XBB sub-variant in the province as of Friday, with the patient, a 29-year-old woman, getting infected outside East Java, she said.

The governor informed that she had ordered the East Java Provincial Health Office and the East Java COVID-19 Task Force to keep monitoring and carrying out tracing of close contacts of the patient. This is because the XBB sub-variant has a quick transmission rate.

"The patient had mild symptoms. All close contacts have been tested and the results are negative. The patient has now been declared recovered or negative," she said.

The XBB sub-variant is reported to have caused a significant spike in cases in several countries, especially Singapore, she noted. Therefore, she appealed to all East Java residents to remain calm and not panic.

She said she expects people to keep maintaining and tightening the health protocols as a form of self- and family protection.

Besides calling for COVID-19 vaccinations, she instructed all hospitals, especially those under the authority of the East Java provincial government, to increase vigilance. Although COVID-19 cases in East Java are low, hospitals must not lose their grip on preparedness, Parawansa said.

Oleh : Louis S, Kenzu

Editor : Yakop

AKI: Indonesia To Receive 200 Antidote Vials From Japan

Redaksi    Thursday, October 27, 2022    Comment   

AKI: Indonesia To Receive 200 Antidote Vials From Japan

AKI: Indonesia To Receive 200 Antidote Vials From Japan.

Jakarta - A pharmaceutical company from Japan, Takeda, has donated 200 vials of acute kidney injury (AKI) antidote, Fomepizole, to Indonesia, Health Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Syahril informed at a press conference here on Thursday.

“The drug will arrive next week. We will directly distribute it to government hospitals,” he said.

In addition to the donation from Japan, 70 vials of Fomepizole are also scheduled to arrive from Singapore.

The government has provided Fomepizole to the Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM). The condition of 10 out of 11 AKI patients at the hospital has been reported to have improved after they were administered the antidote.

Laboratory tests showed that the ethylene glycol levels in the 10 child patients were no longer detectable. The patients also managed to urinate after receiving the antidote.

Syahril said that the antidote is being provided for free by the government to patients who developed acute kidney injury after consuming syrup medicines that were suspected to be contaminated with ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol.

"This medicine (Fomepizole) is being provided completely free of charge to patients as part of the government's responsibility to handle cases of acute kidney injury," he affirmed.

As of October 26, 2022, the Ministry of Health has recorded 269 cases of atypical progressive acute kidney injury in Indonesia.

The regions with the highest number of cases are Jakarta, with 57 cases, followed by West Java (36), Aceh (30), East Java (25), and West Sumatra (19).

Besides Japan, the government is importing the antidote from Singapore, Australia, and the United States.

The government is currently still collecting data on acute kidney injury cases in all districts and cities in collaboration with local health offices, hospitals, and the Indonesian Pediatric Society (IDAI).

Oleh : Sugiharto Purnama, Raka Adji/Antara

Editor : Yakop

US Sends More Vaccines To Boost Indonesia's COVID Vaccination Drive

Redaksi    Thursday, October 27, 2022    Comment   

US Sends More Vaccines To Boost Indonesia's COVID Vaccination Drive

US Sends More Vaccines To Boost Indonesia's COVID Vaccination Drive.

Jakarta - The United States this week shipped more than five million doses of donated Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines to boost the vaccination drive against the novel coronavirus disease in Indonesia.

With the latest shipment, the United States had so far donated a total of 40.8 million doses to Indonesia and more than 620 million vaccines to more than 120 countries in each region of the world, the US Embassy in Jakarta said in a statement released on Thursday.

"I congratulate the Indonesian government on successfully fully vaccinating 73 percent of its population with COVID-19 vaccine," the United States Ambassador to Indonesia, Sung Y. Kim, said.

The new shipment demonstrates the United States’ continued commitment to meet President Joe Biden’s pledge to donate 1.2 billion doses of safe and effective vaccines worldwide, according to the embassy's statement.

"This new delivery of safe and effective vaccine doses will help Indonesia to continue pursuing higher vaccine and booster coverage," Ambassador Kim said.

"The United States remains committed to our strategic partnership with Indonesia to achieve sustained economic growth and development goals," he added.

Since the onset of the pandemic, the US government has provided more than US$77 million to support Indonesia’s COVID-19 response.

Besides, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the United States has assisted more than 840 thousand frontline healthcare workers and strengthened almost two thousand hospitals, clinics, and laboratories, the US Embassy informed.

"The United States is committed to partnering with the government and people of Indonesia to save lives while making a strong economic recovery and securing decades of development progress that was harmed by the pandemic," the embassy said.

Pewarta : Yuni Arisandy Sinaga/Antara

Editor : Yakop

Ministry, BPOM Conduct Cyber Patrols To Oversee Syrup Drug Circulation

Redaksi    Wednesday, October 26, 2022    Comment   

Ministry, BPOM Conduct Cyber Patrols To Oversee Syrup Drug Circulation

Ministry, BPOM conduct cyber patrols to oversee syrup drug circulation.

Jakarta - The Ministry of Communication and Informatics will help the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) to conduct cyber patrols to oversee the circulation of syrup drugs.

"We will fully monitor and assist BPOM to protect the public from syrup drugs, with high toxic elements," Minister of Communication and Informatics Johnny G. Plate stated here, Wednesday (26/10/2022).

Plate explained that his ministry routinely conducted cyber patrols with other institutions. During this patrol, the ministry will help BPOM to oversee the circulation of syrup drugs to anticipate acute kidney disorders in children.

Head of BPOM Penny Kusumastuti Lukito noted on Monday that there were several drugs circulating on the e-commerce platform that did not meet the safety requirements set by her agency.

"There are 1,400 links that we have to follow up as part of the BPOM cyber patrols," Lukito remarked.

Until now, the BPOM has announced five drug brands that are considered ineligible, as they contain ethylene glycol (EG) and diethylene glycol (DEG) compounds that exceed the threshold.

The Ministry of Health also found at least 102 types of syrup drugs that had been consumed by patients with acute kidney disorders.

The hundreds of drugs are being investigated by BPOM to see the level of EG and DEG content in the syrup.

As of October 24, the Health Ministry found 255 cases of acute kidney disease in children from 26 provinces. A total of 143 patients died or equivalent to 56 of the total number of cases.

Results of the investigation showed that cases of acute kidney disorders were caused by syrups containing these compounds.

The Jakarta Health Service, on October 24, 2022, had received 90 reports of cases of acute kidney disorders in children, with almost 50 percent of the patients having died. In addition, the health service opened information services regarding acute kidney disorders through cellular numbers belonging to 44 community health centers (puskesmas) in the city.

In a bid to treat the patients, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin reported that his ministry had brought Fomepizole medicine from Singapore and Australia to cure acute kidney disorders patients at the Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital as a referral hospital for this disease.

He said that patients receiving Fomepizole injections started to show improvement and were in a stable condition.

Oleh : Natisha Andarningtyas, Resinta S/Antara

Editor : Yakop

PAEI Calls for Bolstering Health Protocols To PreventXBB Spread

Redaksi    Tuesday, October 25, 2022    Comment   

PAEI Calls for Bolstering Health Protocols To PreventXBB Spread

PAEI Calls for Bolstering Health Protocols To PreventXBB Spread. (Antara/Pixabay)

Jakarta - Head of the professional development division of the Indonesian Epidemiologists Association (PAEI), Masdalina Pane, has urged the community to strengthen the health protocols to prevent the spread of the XBB variant of COVID-19.

"The community must strengthen the health protocols because the XBB variant has been found in Indonesia," she said when contacted on Tuesday.

Pane, who is also a researcher at the Public Health Research Center of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), explained that the XBB or the BA.2.10 variant has become a reminder of the need for compliance in wearing masks, washing hands, and avoiding crowds.

"The emergence of the new variant has also highlighted the need for protecting vulnerable groups such as older adults, children, and people with comorbidities from infection," she added (26/10/2022).

Through good compliance with the health protocols, a potential surge in cases may be suppressed, she said.

"What's important is the capacity of testing, tracing, and treatment must be continuously improved as part of efforts to prevent COVID-19 spread," she added.

She further noted that the capacity of testing, tracing, and treatment is also very important in order to support the transition to the endemic phase.

According to her, by increasing the capacity of testing, the actual number of cases in the community can be obtained.

Earlier on Friday (October 21, 2022), Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated that the XBB variant had been detected in Indonesia, and the government was monitoring the development of the case.

The minister emphasized that the country is not yet safe from the pandemic.

The first case of COVID-19 in Indonesia was confirmed in March 2020. According to data from the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, as of October 25, 2022, the nation has recorded 6,475,672 COVID-19 cases, 6,297,282 recoveries, and 158,475 deaths.

Oleh : Wuryanti Puspitasari, Raka Adji/Antara

Editor : Yakop

Ministry to Directly distribute AKI antidote to health facilities

Redaksi    Tuesday, October 25, 2022    Comment   

Ministry to Directly distribute AKI antidote to health facilities

Ministry to Directly distribute AKI antidote to health facilities.

Jakarta - The Jakarta Health place of job has mentioned that the Ministry of Health will Directly distribute the antidote for acute kidney damage (AKI) to health facilities that are treating AKI patients to expedite its dealing with.

"it really is Allotted to health facilities that raise out remedy (of AKI patients)," head of the Jakarta Health place of work, Widyastuti, pointed out here on Tuesday.

The health administrative center head did Not deliver further Details on the antidote allocation that Jakarta would receive because it would be Supplied Right away to health facilities.

The Jakarta Health administrative center recorded 90 acute kidney damage cases in Children in the Period from January to October 24, 2022. Of the number, practically 50 percent died.

Consistent with Widyastuti, AKI patients who are still undergoing treatment are being treated in vertical hospitals owned by means of the Principal executive.

In Jakarta, Cipto Mangunkusumo Health center (RSCM) and Harapan Kita Mother and Baby Clinic are serving A. referral hospitals.

The Jakarta Health workplace has increased the bed abilitythe los angeles pediatric intensive care devices (PICU) in hospitals in the province from 197 to 219The l phase of efforts to address AKI in Teenagers.

The Health place of work has also increased the competency of doctors and nurses to take care of the limited selection of nephrology consultants or medical experts who playThe lrole in diagnosing and treating kidney troubles in Childrens, children, and teens.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health will accelerate the advent of Fomepizole, an antidote to drug poisoning seen in acute kidney damage patients. The Remedy Will be Provided free of price to all patients.

In keeping with the ministry’s Records, the condition of 10 out of 9/11 acute kidney damage patientsThe la Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital--who had consumed syrup drugs suspected of being contaminated with Distinctive chemical materials—has gradually multiplied after taking Fomepizole.

"We can conclude that this medication (Fomepizole) has A.high-quality affect, and we can accelerate its arrival to Indonesia so that Youngsters will probably be saved," Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin observed all throughthe los angelespress conference on Monday.

Health Minister Highlights That Many Indonesians Lack Vitamin D

Redaksi    Sunday, October 23, 2022    Comment   

Health Minister Highlights That Many Indonesians Lack Vitamin D

Health Minister Highlights That Many Indonesians Lack Vitamin D.

Jakarta - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated that there are still many people in Indonesia that experience vitamin D deficiency and remind the public to actively exercise and expose themselves to sunlight to avoid the condition.

There were many elderly people in Indonesia that experienced vitamin D deficiency even though it was necessary to avoid bone loss, he noted after an event in commemoration of National Osteoporosis Day here, Sunday.

"There are many Indonesians that, surprisingly, even though sunlight is abundant, experience vitamin D deficiency, which leads them to experience osteoporosis," he remarked.

Osteoporosis is a condition wherein the body has a low bone mass accompanied with declining bone tissue quality which can cause bone fragility.

This condition can be experienced by all individuals, both children and adults. However, osteoporosis occurs more frequently toward women who enter the menopause period.

Vitamin D plays a role in maintaining calcium and phosphor that can maintain bone density.

As a result, deficiency of vitamin D leads to deficiency of these two minerals which can make bones to become more fragile and at risk of osteoporosis.

"To this end, exercise more frequently and do activities outdoor, specifically before nine o'clock in the morning," she noted.

The data from 2018 Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) shows that around 36,4 percent of males and 30,7 percent of females over the age of 10 lack physical activities.

During the occasion, Sadikin informed that a total of 26 Fomepizole drug vials to medicate atypical progressive acute kidney injury will brought into the country today.

Indonesia received 10 vials of Fomepizole drug from Singapore and 16 from Australia that will be directly delivered today from the two countries, he informed.

Oleh : Prisca T V, Fadhli Ruhman

Editor : Yakop