VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta. The National Development Planning Ministry/National Development Planning (KPPN/Bappenas) highlighted that the existence and role of civil society organizations is crucial in shepherding the development process in Indonesia.

"Civil society has the power to convey its courage. This is a tremendous asset, so civil society can assist in realizing the development goals, especially in order to boost the government’s performance," Deputy for Political, Defence, and Security Affairs of Bappenas Slamet Soedarsono stated here on Thursday.

Soedarsono pointed out that before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Indonesia’s civil society organizations had encountered numerous challenges. This situation not only occurs in Indonesia but also at the regional and global levels.

The challenge is partly since Indonesia's middle class has grown, thereby propelling its economic status to an upper-middle income country. Hence, as a result, donors reduce their support for civil society organizations.

"This is since they are considered and expected to be more independent," he noted.

Amid the challenge of obtaining funding independently, the world is also battered by the COVID-19 pandemic, thereby making it increasingly difficult for organizations to obtain funding.

"Studies prove that this pandemic has negatively impacted the resilience of most of the civil society organizations," he affirmed.

In fact, over 50 percent of these organizations are in a risky and critical phase after reeling from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under such conditions, civil society organizations are recommended to streamline programs and undertake other efforts.

Soedarsono admitted that such a condition had impeded the performance of civil society organizations. In fact, amid the pandemic, the community increasingly needs support from the organizations.

"Hence, in future, civil society organizations must become more prudent in dealing with the current situation," Soedarsono stated. (Antaranews)

Jakarta. The Health Ministry awaits recommendation from related institutions prior to going ahead with the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine to children, according to a spokesperson.

"We are waiting for a recommendation from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI), and the Indonesian Pediatric Society (IDAI)," the ministry's spokesperson for COVID-19 vaccination, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, noted in a brief message here on Thursday.

IDAI Chairman Aman Bhakti Pulungan revealed that the association had yet to issue a recommendation on COVID-19 vaccination of children.

"No update had yet been received on vaccination for children. Surely, the IDAI has yet to issue any recommendation on (COVID-19) immunization for children," he remarked.

Pulungan pointed out that Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccine was only recommended for people in the age group of 15 of 59 years.

Pulungan highlighted the IDAI’s support to research on vaccine safety for children.

"We are expecting this (COVID-19 vaccination for children), but is it safe? Possibly it is safe, but there is no data on it and neither from the BPOM," he stated.

The medical director at Sinovac Gang Zeng had recently noted that early and intermediate clinical test on 550 subjects indicated that the vaccine had initiated immunity response in children.

Two vaccine recipients in the age group of three and six years experienced high fever after being inoculated.

"Other subjects exhibited mild symptoms. This has shown that the vaccine is safe and will create an immunity response against SARS CoV-2," Zeng stated. (Antaranews)

Jakarta. President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) observed the COVID-19 vaccination conducted for public service officers, religious leaders, and senior citizens in Ambon, Maluku Province, on Thursday.

The head of state, citing Maluku Governor Murad Ismail’s report, noted that the COVID-19 vaccine had been administered to 116 thousand people in Maluku Province, including 30 thousand individuals in its capital city Ambon.

"We are upbeat about achieving the target (of vaccination)," Jokowi noted on the sidelines of a mass vaccination conducted at the Dr J. Leimena General Hospital, Ambon.

On the occasion, the president also inaugurated the Dr J. Leimena General Hospital (RSUP), whose construction work began in 2017.

"We are optimistic of this hospital providing its highest services to people in the eastern part of Indonesia, especially in Maluku Province, and Ambon City," he stated.

Jokowi expressed belief that RSUP Dr J. Leimena, with its large capacity, would cater to the public’s requirement of a health facility.

"This is a very large hospital, and we are optimistic that the people in eastern Indonesia would be offered treatment options at RSUP Dr J. Leimena," Jokowi noted. (Antaranews)

Jakarta. AstraZeneca said on Thursday its COVID-19 vaccine was 76% effective at preventing symptomatic illness, citing a new analysis of up-to-date results for its major U.S. trial.

U.S. health officials earlier in the week publicly rebuked the drugmaker for using “outdated information” when calculating that the vaccine was 79% effective.

That marked a new setback for the vaccine that was once hailed as a milestone in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, but has been dogged by questions over its effectiveness and possible side-effects.

AstraZeneca reiterated on Thursday that the shot, developed with Oxford University, was 100% effective against severe or critical forms of the disease.

It also said the vaccine showed 86% efficacy in adults 65 years and older.

The latest trial data, which has yet to be reviewed by independent researchers or regulators, was based on 190 infections and 32,449 participants in the United States, Chile and Peru. The earlier interim data was based on 141 infections through Feb. 17.

The updated 76% efficacy rate compares with rates of about 95% for vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna.

The AstraZeneca vaccine is, however, seen as crucial in tackling the spread of COVID-19 across the globe, not just due to limited vaccine supply but also because it is easier and cheaper to transport than rival shots. It has been granted conditional marketing or emergency use authorization in more than 70 countries.

The shot has faced questions since late last year when the drugmaker and Oxford University published data from an earlier trial with two different efficacy readings as a result of a dosing error.

Then this month, more than a dozen countries temporarily suspended giving out the vaccine after reports linked it to a rare blood clotting disorder in a very small number of people.

The European Union’s drug regulator said last week the vaccine was clearly safe, but Europeans remain sceptical about its safety. (Reuters)