Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Indonesia will soon allow Sinopharm and Pfizer vaccines administered to children aged 6 to 11 years old, following the Sinovac vaccine which has been permitted to be used in this group, said head of Indonesia’s National Agency of Drug and Food Control Penny Lukito.

"Currently, the Sinopharm vaccine is under an evaluation process regarding the clinical trial on children aged 6 to 11 years old," said Penny at a virtual press conference here on Monday (Nov. 1).

She explained that the process of assessing the results of the COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial for children requires several stages and takes a long process.

In addition, data on clinical trial results submitted by the registrant, in this case Indonesian pharmaceutical company Kimia Farma as an importer of Sinopharm, is also processed in stages.

As for the Pfizer vaccine, Penny said the agency is only waiting for registration from the company to Indonesia’s National Agency of Drug and Food Control.

She added that permit to use Pfizer's vaccine for children could be issued more quickly as it already has an authorization from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a vaccine against COVID-19 that can be used for children aged 5 to 11 years old.

The Indonesian agency considers data from FDA, which is a regulatory body that meets international supervisory standards, are strict regarding aspects of the safety, quality and efficacy of a vaccine.

Indonesia’s National Agency of Drug and Food Control has officially issued a permit to use Sinovac for children aged 6 to 11 years, stating that the vaccine made by a Chinese pharmaceutical company is safe for this group.

Reporting by Indonesia Window