COVID-19 Vaccine Batch Four Arrives in Indonesia

COVID-19 vaccines arrive at Soekarno Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, Banten, on Tuesday (2/2). (Photo captured from Presidential Secretariat YouTube channel)

Approximately 10 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine bulk supply and 1 million doses for overfill or an extra volume from Sinovac has arrived in Indonesia, on Tuesday (2/2).

Secretary General of Ministry of Health Oscar Primadi said that the delivery proved the Government’s concrete measure to curb COVID-19 pandemic and to ensure people’s health.

In total, Indonesia now has 28 million doses of vaccine, comprising ready-to-use vaccine and vaccine in bulk that will be processed by state-owned pharmaceutical holding company Bio Farma. The vaccine will be used in the Government’s free vaccination program against COVID-19.

“Thank to solid coordination among various sides including with the Sinovac, we are able to procure vaccine supply that has been declared safe,” Oscar said in a press statement at the arrival of the fourth batch of COVID-19 vaccine, Tuesday (2/2).

The vaccines, he added, has also received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) recommendation from the Indonesian Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM), and halal (permissible under Islamic law) fatwa (edict) from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI).

He went on to say that the vaccines have been rolled out to 500,000 medical workers throughout the country. For the record, 1.5 million medical workers are the first targeted group to receive COVID-19 vaccines.

“Afterwards, we will proceed vaccination program to public workers. Therefore, I call on all layers of society to participate in COVID-19 vaccination program,” he said. (FID/UN) (RAS/LW)