Jakarta (ANTARA) - At the start of its launch, the 4-valent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine NusaGard will only be used in the National Immunization Program (PIN) for cervical cancer control, according to PT Bio Farma."This vaccine is specifically for the National Immunization Program. Going forward, it (the HPV vaccine) will be needed until the age of 45," said Shadiq Akasya, the president director of the state-run vaccine producer, after the vaccine's launch event in Jakarta on Wednesday. Bio Farma has received an order of 3.1 million doses for the locally-produced NusaGard vaccine from the government, with the aim of vaccinating 2.9 million elementary school children aged 914. The vaccine, which was developed by Bio Farma in cooperation with the global pharmaceutical company PT Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD) Indonesia, has been integrated into the School Children Immunization Month (BIAS) program starting from August 2023. The vaccine orders are projected to continue until 2024 to meet the needs of the immunization program, in which two doses of the HPV vaccine will be given six months apart. So far, Bio Farma has not planned to commercialize NusaGard for the general public. Akasya said that his company does not yet have a price for the vaccine. t the launch event, the head of the National Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM), Penny K. Lukito, said that the NusaGard vaccine produces mild side effects in recipients. "This vaccine is for those aged 945 years based on the clinical trials," she added. Based on the evaluation results, NusaGard has an efficacy of 95100 percent, and its protection can last 1012 years. The vaccine has also been proven to prevent cervical cancer in females aged 945 years and protect males aged 926 years from HPV. The NusaGard vaccine is expected to receive approval from the World Health Organization (WHO) and become a Bio Farma vaccine that can be exported to 130 countries.
Source: Antara News Agency