Grant call scheme to push RnD of 11 vaccine antigens, gov't says

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Higher Education, Science, and Technology Ministry has stated the grant call scheme could accelerate research and development of 11 vaccine antigens requested by the Health Ministry, thereby strengthening the National Routine Immunization program.

Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Stella Christie said here on Wednesday that under new arrangements, the government has provided funds for strategic research, including projects proposed by the Health Ministry.

"We have something called a proposal call, so we call forth. If the (required vaccines) have been determined by Mr. Minister, we can set aside and allocate fundings for just those 11," Christie said after the launch of the mRNA Dengue Vaccine Prototype.

She said the scheme would encourage healthy competition among researchers and ensure that only the strongest proposals receive funding.

"It is what we will do to follow up on Mr. Minister's request," she confirmed.

The deputy minister said that under President Prabowo Subianto's administration, in 2025, research grants doubled in amount. According to her, it reflects the president's commitment to advancing the nation through science and technology development.

"This is a commitment from the President, and there will be many, many things like this that will come out," she pointed out, referring to University of Indonesia and Tsinghua University's collaboration in the mRNA Dengue Vaccine Prototype.

On the same occasion, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said Indonesia's routine immunization program currently uses 15 antigens, which form the basis for 13 vaccines, with one vaccine containing multiple antigens.

However, only four of the 13 vaccines are fully manufactured domestically.

"The other eleven are still made through assemblies. Installed, attached together. Not really a full manufacturing process," he pointed out.

Thus, he called on the University of Indonesia, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), and the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) to support research and innovation aimed at developing the remaining vaccines domestically.

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Reporter: Mecca Yumna Ning Prisie

Editor: Azis Kurmala

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