With the incorporation of a multilateral cooperation mechanism with UNICEF within the COVAX Facility, guaranteeing speed, availability, and delivery of vaccines, our efforts to accelerate the availability of vaccines to protect the public are on theJakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo gave a fortnight's time to related government officials to come up with a meticulous plan for the implementation of COVID-19 vaccination.
"Thus, when the vaccine is available, it would just be a matter of implementing it on the field," the head of state noted at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Monday, during a virtual limited meeting on the Report of the Committee on Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery.
"The vaccine injection plan should be outlined in detail as early as possible," the president remarked.
Widodo emphasized that the inoculation plan should encompass the vaccination timing, location, implementing agency, and targets.
Indonesia has two choices of sources for the COVID-19 vaccine, with the first being the Red and White vaccine, being developed by the Ministry of Research and Technology, National Research and Innovation Agency, and Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology.
The Ministry of Research and Technology is optimistic of mass production of the Red and White vaccine for COVID-19 prevention commencing in late 2021.
The second choice is vaccine production in collaboration with pharmaceutical companies from other countries, specifically vaccines produced by Chinese pharmaceutical company PT Sinovac, vaccines in collaboration with Sinopharm and Group 42 from the United Arab Emirates, and vaccines through cooperation between Genexine from South Korea and PT Kalbe Farma.
The Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery (KPCPEN) highlighted the government’s sustained efforts to expedite vaccine availability through bilateral and multilateral channels.
Chief Executive of KPCPEN Erick Thohir earlier noted in an official statement in Jakarta on Thursday that in addition to cooperation between Biofarma and Sinovac, Kimia Farma and G42, as well as exploring partnerships with Genexine, CanSino, and AstraZeneca, the government is exploring cooperation with other pharmaceutical companies, such as Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Novafax.
"With the incorporation of a multilateral cooperation mechanism with UNICEF within the COVAX Facility, guaranteeing speed, availability, and delivery of vaccines, our efforts to accelerate the availability of vaccines to protect the public are on the right track," Thohir explained.
Chief Executive of KPCPEN noted that the spirit of mutual cooperation among all parties would be a huge asset for the nation in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.
"In the midst of the government's efforts, we are upbeat about all of us working together to stay disciplined in implementing health protocols," Thohir stated.
Chief Executive of KPCPEN also noted that various strategic steps, including coordination between ministries and agencies, especially with the Ministry of Health and local governments, were being persistently taken to handle and anticipate the widespread impact of the pandemic.
"The steps encompass increasing the ability to test specimens, preparing and increasing the availability of beds at hospitals and isolation rooms, increasing standardization of case handling and supply of healing therapy drugs, and accelerating availability of the COVID-19 vaccine," he emphasized.
Related news: Government persistently endeavors to expedite vaccine availability
Related news: In push for mass immunization, frontline warriors prioritized
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Indra Arief, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
