Kuta (Antara Bali) – Indonesian vaccine-making company Bio Farma has exported its product to 117 countries, making it one of the largest exporters of vaccine in the developing world.
“Bio Farma produces 11 types of vaccines which all have been prequalified by WHO. We export them to 117 countries worldwide, including Islamic countries,†said Iskandar (one name), President Director of Indonesian vaccine-maker Bio Farma told newsmen here, on Wednesday.
Speaking to media on the sidelines of the on-going of 13th annual general meeting of the Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers Network (DCVMN) on October 31-November 2, 2012, Iskandar said Bio Farma is one of the 30 companies whose products prequalified by WHO out of the total 200 vaccine making companies in the world.
Iskandar made it clear that Bio Farma has recevied the trust of those many countries because of the high quality of its products. “There have been no compaliants addressed to us on the safety of our products, let alone fatalities related to their use,†he pointed out.
On the 13th DCVMN annual general meeting, he said the members could take advatange of the meeting for sharing their experience and know how on the research and development of new vaccines.
Indonesia has already achieved a “sound, technological platform†in vaccine production and therefore looks forward to establishing cooperation in vaccine research and developements with other countries, he emphasized.
More than 100 vaccine experts and high ranking health officials from DCVMN member states and other countries as well as UN bodies attending the three-day meeting. The meeting also features presentations from vaccine experts from the United States, Europe. Latin America and U.N. bodies.
The list of speakers includes Dr. Kim Bush of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, whose speech is entitled `Programmes to Improve Global Health: Why and How, and Dr. Shanelle Hall of the UNICEF Supply Division, who is scheduled to speak on UNICEF’s strategy for forecasting vaccine demands and working with countries and manufacturers.
Indonesian top vaccine researcher, Dr. Mahendra Suhardono, will preside over a panel discussion featuring speakers Dr. Tjandra Yoga of the Indonesian Health Ministry’s director general of communicable disease control, who will outline an initiative on global cooperation for responding to pandemic influenza.
In total, there are currently 37 vaccine-making manufacturers in the 14 DCVMN member countries.The objective of the Bali meeting is to increase the availability and improve the quality of vaccines produced in developing countries.
Member states of the DCVMN are Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cuba, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Mexico, Republic of China, Republic of Korea, South Africa, Thailand and Vietnam.
Member organizations are Beijing Minhai Biotechnology, Bharat Biotech International Limited, Biological E. Limited, Bio-Manguinhos - Institute of Technology on Immunobiologicals, BioNet-Asia Co., Ltd., Cadila Pharmaceuticals Limited, the Center for Genetic engineering and Biotechnology Chengda Liaoning, and China National Biotec Group (CNBG).
Other members include EuBiologics, Finlay Institute, Haffkine, Hualan Bio, Incepta Ltd., Indian Immunologicals Limited, Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals, Instituto Butantan, National Administration of Laboratories and Institute of Health ANLIS Dr. Carlos G. Malbran, Panacea Biotec Ltd, Pasteur Institute of Iran and Bio Farma.
Also Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, Razi Vaccine & Serum Research Institute, Serum Institute of India Ltd, Sinergium, Sinovac Biotech Ltd., SK Chemicals, Biovac Institute, Company for Vaccine and Biological Production No.1 Vabiotech, the Government Pharmaceutical Organization, the Holding Company for Biological Products & Vaccines (VACSERA), Tiantan, Walvax and Xiamen Innovax Biotech.(END).(*/T007)
