Indonesia Receives Another Batch of Sinopharm Vaccine

Screenshot of a press conference on the arrival of 1.4 million doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine, Friday (16/7).

Indonesia, on Friday (16/7), received 1.4 million doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine via Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten province.

“Thank God, this afternoon, Indonesia has once again received 1,408,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine transported via national carrier Garuda Indonesia,” Deputy Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Pahala Nugraha Mansury said in an online press conference.

The Deputy Minister said that this fourth arrival of the vaccine is a part of the vaccine to be used for mutual cooperation “Gotong Royong” vaccination scheme. The procurement of the vaccine is carried out by Kimia Farma, a subsidiary of state-owned pharmaceutical company Bio Farma in collaboration with Sinopharm, with a total supply of 15 million doses of vaccine.

Pahala stated that Indonesia will receive an additional 1.1 million doses of vaccine on 19 July and two million doses in the last week of July. “So, in July, God willing, we will receive approximately six million (doses) of the Sinopharm vaccine,” he said.

The Deputy Minister expressed hope that the mutual cooperation vaccination scheme can provide an additional option for the people in order to support the Government’s target to achieve herd immunity.

“This is also expected to help foreigners who are on duty or also living in Indonesia so that they can also be protected,” he added.

Pahala underlined that the funding for this scheme is not sourced from the State Budget, be it for the purchase or delivery of the vaccine until the vaccination. The vaccine, according to him, is not a part of the vaccine used for the Government’s program or vaccine from friendly countries.

The Sinopharm vaccine is expected to provide more options on types of vaccine brands and complement other vaccines. Pahala also expressed hope that the Indonesian people will not hesitate to get vaccinated due to its chance to reduce the risk of serious illness when exposed to COVID-19.

“In addition to vaccination, we also hope that the people will continue to implement health protocols, implement 5M (using masks, washing hands, maintaining a safe distance, avoiding crowds, and reducing mobility), maintain health, and comply with government policies, especially those regions included in the Emergency PPKM (public activity restrictions),” he said. (FID/AIT/UN) (FI/MUR)