"We will conduct vaccinations in the third week of December," Pandjaitan remarked while speaking at the 7th Singapore Dialogue on Sustainable World Resources (SDSWR) held virtually on Wednesday.
Bio Farma, in collaboration with the University of Pandjajaran, is conducting the third phase of clinical trials of the Sinovac vaccine in Bandung, West Java.
To conduct vaccinations, the Indonesian government will also use the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) approval from the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM).
"I think (vaccination will be conducted on) around nine million people in specific areas that we believe are contributing greatly to handling the high number of COVID-19 cases. In Jakarta, for instance, there are several areas that we believe contribute significantly to the tally of COVID-19 cases, and (we will) give them a shot," Pandjaitan, concurrently deputy chair of the Committee for COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery (KPCPEN), stated.
In the interim, the government has set a target to transform Bali into a green zone in early 2021 following vaccination in the third week of December.
"We are keen to see Bali become a green zone, which is our target. We are optimistic of Bali becoming a green zone at the start of next year, as we will commence vaccinations in the third week of December," he remarked.
Indonesia postponed the vaccination, earlier scheduled for November, pending the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency’s (BPOM’s) issuance of an emergency use authorization, Pandjaitan earlier stated. Related news: BPOM's emergency use authorization awaited for COVID-19 vaccination
Related news: Awaiting Indonesia's COVID-19 vaccine in a careful and cautious way
Translator: Ade Irma J, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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