Vaccines are biological products that provide adaptive immunity against certain infectious diseases. Simply put, vaccines work by training the body’s immune system to recognize and fight harmful viruses or bacteria without us having to fall ill first. Vaccines also played a crucial role in addressing the recent COVID-19 pandemic. One widely recognized vaccine is the Sinovac vaccine developed by Sinovac Holding Group Co., Ltd., a biotechnology company from China.
Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has signed two joint Memoranda of Understanding with PT Bio Farma (Persero) and Sinovac Holding Group Co. Ltd. at the UGM Rector’s Guest Room on Tuesday (Apr. 21). This tripartite agreement forms the foundation for strengthening collaboration in education, research, and community service, particularly in the field of specialized biological products such as vaccines and antivirals.
Professor Ova Emilia, Rector of UGM, emphasized the importance of vaccines. Therefore, UGM is committed to this collaboration with Sinovac Holding Group and PT Bio Farma in developing vaccine and drug trial units at UGM-owned hospitals.
“Vaccines are essential for the sustainability of a country as large as Indonesia,” she stated.
With Indonesia’s population exceeding 288 million and the potential emergence of new viruses or bacteria, vaccine availability is vital. Vaccines help increase the population’s resilience and immunity, ensuring people remain healthy and protected from viral transmission.
“This collaboration must be continued and strengthened, not only for vaccine development but also for treatments intended for the Indonesian population,” Professor Ova added.
Hu Yaling, Vice President of Sinovac Holding Group, expressed his deep appreciation to UGM for this partnership.
“I hope that, as we have worked very closely in Indonesia since the COVID-19 period, today can be a starting point to initiate our research, completion, and industrialization efforts,” he said.
Yuliana Indriati, Director of Research & Development at PT Bio Farma (Persero), also conveyed her gratitude for UGM’s contribution and role in vaccine development within UGM’s facilities. She expressed appreciation to UGM for conducting trials of various Bio Farma vaccines. This collaboration is expected to accelerate joint vaccine development with Sinovac.
“We hope to see more vaccine innovations emerging from Indonesia, and of course, for Indonesia to be able to produce its own vaccines. We fully support and look forward to all the positive outcomes from this collaboration,” she concluded.
Author: Leony
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photo: Firsto