Back in May 2021, there was a change in distributing COVID-19 vaccinations in West Papua. Previously, the distribution was carried out by Bio Farma Ltd. to the Provincial Health Office. Now, the distribution of the vaccines is through distributors assigned by Bio Farma. For the Sorong area, the vaccine distribution is through Kimia Farma while for Manokwari, Fakfak, and Kaimana through Dos Ni Roha Ltd. from Jayapura.
However, some problems occurred when the mechanism change was carried out. What are they, and how did the authorities solve the problems?
The Challenges Caused
Many residents in Manokwari, West Papua, have complained about the delay in delivering the COVID-19 vaccine. It is known that the Provincial Health Office has changed these days the vaccine stock delivery policy. Therefore, the distribution is now managed by a third party. However, the distribution to some areas in the province has been long delayed due to several difficulties.
The areas experiencing delays are the Regency of Kaimana, Wondama Bay, Fakfak, Arfak Mountains and Bintuni Bay. Previously, the distribution of the vaccines was directly handled by the Health Office, but currently, it is handled by a third party appointed by Bio Farma.
In this case, Bio Farma trusts two companies as distributors, i.e. Dos Ni Roha Ltd. in Jayapura and Kimia Farma Ltd. in Sorong. It was reported that Kimia Farma smoothly does the communication and delivery in Sorong while Dos Ni Roha in Jayapura was a little bit hampered. The stock of vaccines managed by the company did not yet reach any cities and districts, at least until June 2021.
The company’s spokesman Hendrik A. Marisan admitted that his party had made several communication efforts to the distributor in Jayapura but had not yet received clarity about the matter. The delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine usually takes only one day to arrive in each destined district or city.
The Efforts that The Authorities Have Done
The Food and Drug Administration Center, known as Balai POM (Pengawas Obat dan Makanan) in Manokwari, is assigned by the government to assist the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines in supporting the POM Agency (Badan POM) in controlling the coronavirus pandemic. Balai POM has granted an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the first vaccine to the CoronaVac vaccine, manufactured by Sinovac Biotech Inc. in collaboration with Bio Farma Ltd.
Since January 2021, Balai POM officers in Manokwari have escorted and assisted the distribution of 2,600 doses of CoronaVac vaccine from the Pharmacy Installation of West Papua Province to the Pharmacy Installation of Sorong City. It would then be distributed to five other regencies or cities, including Sorong Raya. The escort and assistance of Balai POM officers in Manokwari was implemented to ensure the distribution of the vaccine complied with the provisions.
In addition to that, Kimia Farma Apotek, through its subsidiary Kimia Farma Diagnostika (KFD), reportedly provided COVID-19 vaccination to approximately 14,800 workers of Tangguh LNG Refinery in Bintuni Bay, West Papua. Thus, the mutual cooperated vaccination activity with the Sinopharm vaccine has been carried out in stages since June 2021.
When being interviewed in June, President Director of Kimia Farma Apotek, Nurtjahjo Walujo Wibowo, stated that the distribution of vaccines and vaccination activities in the easternmost of Indonesia is quite challenging vaccinations conducted in Jakarta, Tangerang, Bogor, Bekasi and Depok areas.
He also explained that the mobilization of vaccines and health workers and consumable medical materials must be transferred by various modes of transportation, including air, land, and sea, to get to the natural gas station in remote areas.
Conclusion
Despite all the efforts made by the authorities in the country, it is highly recommended that the society in West Papua continue to support the COVID-19 pandemic controlling program conducted by the Government, especially the vaccination program. Besides, the public must also remain disciplined in implementing the 5M Health Protocols: wearing masks, maintaining distance, washing hands with soap, avoiding crowds as well as reducing mobility.
Furthermore, Balai POM in Manokwari is also committed to protecting the community from the drugs and food that can harm their health. The agency is open to provide information to the public regarding medicinal products, traditional medicines, cosmetics, health and food supplements.
Balai POM also urges the people in the region to always remember to do CEK Klik (Check out the packaging, labels, circulation permits, expiry dates and so on) before buying medicines (modern or herbal), cosmetics, as well as health supplements and foods.
With good cooperation between the government and the society of West Papua, it is expected that the acceleration to reach herd immunity in the entire land of Cenderawasih can be achieved soon.
