JAKARTA, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) - The Indonesian government is expected to be able to begin mass production of avian influenza vaccine next year, media quoting a minister reported here on Thursday.
Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih said that state pharmaceutical firm Bio Farma would begin making the vaccine once its facilities are expanded, Endang said.
"If the funds are disbursed this year, the facility will be completed by the end of 2012," she was quoted by the Jakarta globe as saying.
Gumilar Sumantri, the University of Indonesia (UI) rector, handed over a prototype of the bird flu vaccine that Bio Farma will eventually use for production.
Bio Farma President Iskandar said that with the UI prototype, the company would not have to come up with its own vaccine, which would have taken about 15 years.
Bird flu viruses have hit Indonesia harder than any other country, with 150 deaths reported here between 2003 and 2011, according to the World Health Organization.
The viruses have already claimed two lives this year: a 23-year old man from North Jakarta and his 5-year-old niece this year.
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