Indonesia will require all foreign nationals traveling to Indonesia to be fully vaccinated, tested negative for Covid-19, and agree to enter an eight-day quarantine, the government said in a statement on Sunday. For your insight, you may want to know the types of Covid-19 vaccines currently available, including those used for vaccination in Indonesia (including Bali).
There are five types of COVID-19 Vaccine that the government introduce to citizens in Indonesia.
- Pfizer-BioNTech
Pfizer-BioNTech is the first vaccine in the world that can be used for the general public. This vaccine is the result of collaboration between a German biotechnology company, BioNTech, and an American pharmaceutical company, Pfizer. Pfizer-BioNTech is a messenger RNA (mRNA) type vaccine or nucleic acid vaccine. This vaccine uses genetic material (in the case of Covid-19 is the spike protein from Covid-19), which is used to give instructions to our body cells to form antibodies.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has an efficacy of around 95% and has received an Emergency Use Authorized (EUA) from the World Health Organization (WHO). The distribution and use of this vaccine were first carried out the United Kingdom, then followed by other countries such as Australia, United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and several countries in Asia such as South Korea, Philippines, Singapore, and Malaysia.
Type: mRNA
Dose: 2
Efficacy: 95%
- Moderna
The next vaccine found to fight Covid-19 is the Moderna vaccine. This vaccine is produced by a biotechnology company from the United States, Moderna. Similar to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, this vaccine is a type of messenger RNA (mRNA) that uses genetic material to stimulate our cells to form antibodies.
The efficacy of the Moderna vaccine is around 95% and has received an Emergency Use Authorized (EUA) from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The distribution and use of this vaccine is mostly carried out in their origin country, the United States. Other countries that use this vaccine are the United Kingdom, Israel and Singapore.
Type: mRNA
Dose: 2
Efficacy: 95%
- AstraZeneca
The AstraZeneca or Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is a vaccine produced by a British biopharmaceutical company and the University of Oxford. This vaccine is a type of viral vector vaccine that utilizes the chimpanzee Adenovirus (which is weakened until it’s harmless), to deliver the spike protein from Covid-19 into our cells and trigger it to build antibodies.
The efficacy of the AstraZeneca vaccine is around 70% overall. After receiving Emergency Use Authorized (EUA) from the World Health Organization (WHO), this vaccine began to be distributed and used in various countries around the world. Most of them are in Europe and Africa. The vaccine is also used in Asia such as Vietnam, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan and South Korea.
Type: Viral vector
Dose: 2
Efficacy: 70%
- Sinovac
Sinovac is a vaccine produced by a Chinese biopharmaceutical company, Sinovac BioTech. This vaccine, which has another name, CoronaVac, is a type of whole virus vaccine that uses the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus. The inactivated virus is no longer able to infect the body, but it can trigger the formation of immunity in our body. The Sinovac vaccine has various efficacy rates from several countries that have conducted its trials. Iin Brazil, the Sinovac vaccine has an efficacy of around 50,65%. In Turkey, the efficacy of the Sinovac vaccine is around 91,25%. Meanwhile in Indonesia , the efficacy of the Sinovac vaccine is around 65,3%. After receiving Emergency Use Authorized (EUA) from the Indonesia Food and Drug Administration (BPOM), the Sinovac vaccine began to be used for the vaccination program in Indonesia. Apart from Indonesia, other countries that have ordered the Sinovac vaccine are Brazil, Chile, Turkey, Singapore, Philippines and Malaysia.
Type: Whole virus (Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus)
Dose: 2
Efficacy: 50,65% – 91,25%
- Novavax
Novavax is a vaccine developed by a biopharmaceutical company, called Novavax. This vaccine is a type of protein-based vaccine, containing a special Covid-19 spike protein made using the company’s own technology, so it can stimulate the formation of antibodies in our body. The efficacy of the Novavax vaccine reached 89,3% in the third trial in England. Currently, Novavax is still waiting for an Emergency Use Authorized (EUA) from the United State Food and Drug Administration (FDA), while preparing the production for distribution to various countries including Indonesia.
Type: Protein-based
Dose: 2
Efficacy: 89,3%
After knowing the information about the vaccine, we will let you know about how to get vaccinated in Bali. In sanur, some of the foreigners already get their vaccine shot. “These foreigners have been vaccinated and are staying here because they have a KITAS and BPJS, which means they are already working, registered, and have health facilities as well as being entitled to vaccine guarantees. There are also those who have an ID card. They can also get vaccinated because they are residents here,” said the Head of Sanur Kaja Village, I Made Sudana.
He explained that there are 10,000 people who are being targeted to get vaccinated in the Sanur Kaja area. Eligible people will have a Sanur KTP, be over 18-years-old, and have a self-reporting certificate (STLD). “If there are non-residents of Sanur but have settled here, they must complete the STLD, meaning that they have reported themselves. Foreigners who already have an ID card, KITAS, and BPJS, can get vaccines, and we will ask for a letter of their e-tickets,” said Made Sudana. The vaccinated foreigners are mostly from Australia and Sweden and include lecturers at an international school and a general manager within the tourism sector. Apart from foreign citizens, tourism workers also get priority in receiving the vaccine by bringing a certificate or ID from their place of work.
The vaccination is targeted to be completed within one week with the programme covering the three green zone areas free of COVID-19. The jab being used in the process is produced by AstraZeneca. Based on data from the Bali Provincial Health Office, there are 20,000 vials of the AstraZeneca vaccine which are being distributed to three green zones. Nusa Dua will receive 8,960 vials, Ubud is getting 4,300 vials, and Sanur will have 6,740 vials. “For the Sanur Kaja area, yesterday someone complained about having fever and chills, then asked to consult the hospital and was given medication in the form of paracetamol and vitamins. After that, this person’s condition improved and they could get back to day-to-day activities,” he conveyed.
The Government vaccination program continues in Bali with just over 650,000 full vaccinated as of June 2nd 2021. There is still no official information on what kind of visa will be required by visitors from the “travel bubble” countries. Tourists must have a negative PCR test result before leaving [their departure point] and after arriving in Indonesia. The government will also ensure foreign tourists entering the country have been vaccinated against Covid-19. The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy has finalized the cooperation plan to open foreign tourist gates with 4 countries through the travel bubble scheme. These countries include the Middle East, such as the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, China, Singapore, and the Netherlands. As of June 01, the 5-day quarantine period is still in place and only via Jakarta.
