14 Million Doses of Vaccine Bulk Arrive in Indonesia

The arrival of COVID-19 vaccine bulk at Soekarno Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten, Wednesday (30/6). (Photo by: Presidential Secretariat/Kris)

On Tuesday (25/5), fourteen million doses of Sinovac vaccine bulk arrived in Indonesia. The arrival affirmed the Government’s efforts to secure COVID-19 vaccine supply to be used on national vaccination program and to speed up the country for achieving herd immunity.

“Today, 14 million doses of vaccine bulk from Sinovac have arrived in Indonesia, adding the total doses of Sinovac vaccine bulk in Indonesia to 105 million doses,” Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin said in a press statement.

With the arrival of the eighteenth batch, the vaccine bulk will be produced by state-owned pharmaceutical company Bio Farma into ready-to-use vaccines.

The process, Budi added, will take a month in which the total of 105 million doses vaccine bulk will be processed into 85 million doses of ready-to-use vaccines.

In addition to Sinovac’s vaccine, Indonesia has also received those from COVAX/GAVI, while more vaccines will arrive soon namely from AstraZeneca, and Pfizer in August.

In order to achieve herd immunity, the Indonesian Government must vaccinate 181.5 million population. Nevertheless, the Minister reminded all that vaccine does not make us 100 percent immune to COVID-19 virus.

“Vaccine indeed improves our immunity. Thus, if we get infected (by COVID-19), it will lessen the symptoms from severe to moderate, from light to asymptomatic cases. However, we must always remember that we still can get infected, or worse, we can carry the virus and infect others,” he stated adding that discipline in adhering to the health protocols is really important.

The Minister also told public to stay at home in order to prevent virus transmission, to protect ourselves, our families, neighbors, and all Indonesians.  (TGH/UN) (RAS/LW)