1.8 Million Doses of Sinovac’s Vaccine Arrive in Indonesia

the arrival of 1.8 million doses of Sinovac’s coronavirus vaccine in Jakarta, Thursday (31/12). (Photo captured by Secretariat President’s YouTube channel)

The Government confirmed that 1.8 million doses of Sinovac’s coronavirus vaccine have arrived in Jakarta, on Thursday (31/12).

The vaccine will then be stored based on the World Health Organization (WHO) standards in a warehouse of state-owned pharmaceutical holding company Bio Farma in West Java provincial capital of Bandung.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi said that today’s vaccine arrival is the second batch after 1.2 million doses in 6 December 2020. Thus, Indonesia has so far received 3 million doses of Sinovac’s coronavirus vaccine.

“In the near future, there’ll be 15 million doses of vaccine bulk supply from Sinovac which will be manufactured by Bio Farma upon its arrival,” she said.

For the record, Indonesia will gradually give COVID-19 vaccine free of charge to the public. Around 1.3 million medical staff in 34 provinces will be first in line, followed by 17.4 million public officers, 21.5 million senior citizens aged 60 years and above, 63.9 million vulnerable people, and 77.4 million general public, respectively.

For senior citizens, the vaccination will proceed once the Indonesian Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) declares that the vaccine is safe for the age group. (UN) (RAS/MUR)