Collaboration to Ward off Viruses

National Vaccine Research Forum becomes a communication and cooperation media of vaccine research. The year of 2014 is set as the stage of research implemtation Vaccine in Indonesia has long been a pillar of the community health resilience. Initiated by the Dutch military era in 1890 by developing "Parc Vaccinogene", the Weltevreden Military Hospital, Batavia (Gatot Subroto Army Hospital in Jakarta). This institution changed its name to the Gedung Cacar dan Lembaga Pasteur No.23 Bandung. In 1997, through Government Regulation No. 1/1997, this institution is set to become PT. Bio Farma (Persero) with stock fully owned by the government. Until now, Bio Farma is still the vaccine manufacturers as a national and global scale, and the sole manufacturer of vaccines and antisera in Indonesia. The company is also recorded as one of the few manufacturers of the vaccine (less than 30 companies of 200 companies in world) which is recognized by the WHO (World Health Organization).

In 2014, this stated owned enterprise is 124 years old and become a main pillar of the National Immunization Program, announced by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia since 1977. Bio Farma is also a major distributor of vaccines and antisera in some hospitals, doctors, clinics, and pharmacies. While the need of vaccine for global scale is channeled through an international agencies, including UNICEF, Global Alliance of Vaccines and Imunization (GAVI), and PAHO (Pan American Health Organization) then to be distributed to countries that need it. The availability of adequate vaccines for all needs become essential. On the other hand, the development of new types of diseases is also increasing. "We are aware that we need all supports in order to that the research of vaccine becomes more focused and accelerate the time of research, and able to produced the new vaccine. Currently it took 12 years of research to produce new vaccines, "said Neni Nurainy, Project Integration Manager of Reseacrch and Development Division of PT. Bio Farma (Persero). Communication among the researchers in the field of vaccines is given withthe media of National Vaccine Research Forum (FRVN) that were initiated since 2011. Not only the academics from various universities, FRVN also involves the government and industry. In this case, Bio Farma become the FRVN mover, because of his skills in the field of research and production of vaccines. "This effort begins with the spirit of developing the Self-Reliance through the harmony among the institutions.

The year of 2012 is focused on the speed acceleration on the vaccine field research, and 2013 became the year of stabilization. In 2014 it focuses on the implementation of the research, "said Erman Tritama, Project Integration Manager of Product Development Division of PT. Bio Farma, which is also the Chairman of FRVN 2014. According to him, about 160 researchers will present in FRVN 2014 held on August 19 to 20 in Jakarta. FRVN currently has 5 consortium and 8 working groups for the research in the field of vaccines. The five consortiums is hepatitis B, tuberculosis, dengue, HIV and erythropoietin (EPO, i.e technology platform which is equivalent to vaccine. While the seven working groups covers Stem Cell, Rotavirus, Pneumococcus, Malaria, influenza, HPV (cervical cancer), which plays a role in terms of vaccine management (acceleration of research to realize the business incubator in the field of vaccine) The five consortiums have obtained the research funding. The three consortiums were hepatitis B, Tuberculosis, and Dengue which have been established since 2012 with the funding from the Ministry of Research and Technology, Ministry of Health, as well as Bio Farma. HIV and EPO are supported by the University of Indonesia. "HIV has just got funding this year so that getting into the group of the consortium," said Erman. Source : Koran Tempo, August 20, 2014