DTP-Hep B vaccine launched in 2003<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Aiming to provide affordable vaccination
\npackages nationwide, public company Biofarma will launch a
\ncombined vaccination for diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) and
\nhepatitis B in 2003.<\/p>\n
"The combined vaccine is currently in the clinical trial
\nphase. It's more efficient and cheaper compared to separate DPT
\nand hepatitis B vaccinations," Biofarma president Thamrin
\nPoeloengan said on the sidelines of an international seminar on
\nvaccinations last week.<\/p>\n
Thamrin said the new vaccine would reduce vaccination costs to
\nunder US$1 per injection, making it affordable for the general
\npublic.<\/p>\n
Separate DPT and hepatitis B vaccines cost $1 and 90 cents
\nrespectively and require six injection sessions, while the
\ncombined vaccines can be administered in three sessions,
\nperformed every four weeks with the first injection given to two-
\nmonth-old babies.<\/p>\n
In Indonesia, with an average of five million babies born
\nannually, the combined vaccination program would cost a total of
\n$15 million annually.<\/p>\n
The new combined vaccine, formulated using whole cell
\nBordetella pertussis bacteria as protection against pertussis, is
\nsaid to have a similar potency and side effects to the DTP
\nvaccine formulated with the acellular Bordetella pertussis,
\nextracted from the whole cell.<\/p>\n
"But the acellular vaccine is seven times more expensive than
\nusing whole cells," Thamrin said, referring to the expensive
\nacellular extraction process.<\/p>\n
Separately, chairperson of the Indonesian Society of
\nPediatrician (IDAI Jaya)'s Jakarta division, Sri Rezeki
\nHadinegoro, identified that the future trend is moving toward the
\nuse of acellular vaccines to moderate the side effects of the
\nwhole cell method, which include fever, localized pain and
\nswelling following the injection.<\/p>\n
She pointed out that the whole cell DPT vaccine has been used
\nfor decades in Indonesia and ensured that the new combined
\nvaccination is completely safe and effective.<\/p>\n
While pointing out that the national DPT vaccination program
\nhas covered 90 percent of the targeted recipients, Hadinegoro
\nexpressed hope that the combined vaccines can help boost
\nhepatitis B programs, which so far remain unsuccessful due to
\nfailures administering the third injection, given five months
\nafter the second one. (lup)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dtp-hep-b-vaccine-launched-in-2003-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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