Jakarta — Indonesia’s Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, has firmly denied claims that Indonesia is being used as a “guinea pig” in the global development of a tuberculosis (TB) vaccine. Instead, he emphasized the country’s critical role in saving millions of lives from the world’s deadliest infectious disease.
“This is to educate the public—this is not some sort of guinea pig experiment. That narrative is intentionally spread to discourage people from getting vaccinated, and the consequences can be deadly. We could lose 100,000 lives over something like this,” Minister Budi told reporters in Jakarta on Friday (May 9).
“Just look at COVID-19. It declined thanks to vaccination, didn’t it? Back then, people claimed vaccines had microchips. People who spread those lies are the real threat,” he added.
Minister Budi urged media professionals to help counter disinformation. “The media must educate the public so they don’t fall for baseless conspiracy theories. If people refuse vaccination and die as a result, we bear responsibility for failing to correct those narratives.”
The TB vaccine currently undergoing Phase 3 clinical trials in Indonesia is the product of extensive research by the Faculty of Medicine at Universitas Indonesia and Universitas Padjadjaran. Over 2,000 participants have been involved since late 2024 under strict supervision and in accordance with the highest scientific standards.
“Let’s be clear: vaccines go through clinical trials—Phase 1, 2, and 3. Phase 1 determines safety, and we’ve already passed that. Now we’re in Phase 3 to assess effectiveness. This is all scientific, not rumors or gossip,” Budi stated.
He reminded the public that history has shown the lifesaving power of vaccines. “COVID-19 didn’t decline because of treatment or screening—it declined thanks to vaccines. Vaccines save millions of lives.”
Tuberculosis remains the leading cause of death among infectious diseases globally, killing over one million people each year—including around 125,000 in Indonesia. “Every minute, two people die of TB. In the five minutes we’ve been talking, ten people have already died,” Budi noted.
By participating in clinical trials, Indonesia also aims to secure a strategic advantage: local vaccine production by state-owned pharmaceutical firm Bio Farma. “If this vaccine proves successful, Indonesia could become a priority manufacturing hub. This isn’t just about protecting our people—it’s about giving the world access to a lifesaving vaccine.”
Addressing concerns that the vaccine may not be genetically compatible with Indonesians, Minister Budi explained that participating in the trial ensures compatibility. He cited the case of the malaria vaccine, which proved ineffective in Indonesia due to its design for the African population. “We don’t want to be caught off guard again. We want to be involved so the vaccine is tailored to our people.”
He also refuted viral rumors about a vaccine factory being built in Singapore. “That’s fake news. The factory is still under construction in the United States. But we are pushing for production to happen in Indonesia eventually.”
Looking ahead, Minister Budi said the government aims to include the TB vaccine in the national immunization program before 2029. “If proven safe and effective, it will absolutely be part of the program. This is the deadliest infectious disease we’re talking about—worse than malaria,” he concluded.
