Physical checking must be conducted thoroughly until we are sure that the vaccine we receive are in good condition.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto made assurance of the COVID-19 vaccine having arrived in Indonesia being sans defects and ready to be delivered to storage warehouses aboard a refrigerated transport vehicle.

"Physical checking must be conducted thoroughly until we are sure that the vaccine we receive is in good condition. No defect in packaging and content and temperature during the delivery has been set as per procedures," Putranto noted during a virtual press conference here on Monday.

The ministry ensured good condition of the refrigerated transport vehicle, provided by the state-run vaccine manufacturer PT Bio Farma, for monitoring and maintaining the vaccine temperature in accordance with the procedure.

The authority has prepared a storage warehouse with cold chain management for 1.2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine received from China's Sinovac Biotech Ltd before being distributed to health offices nationwide.

Putranto remarked that medical workers, assistants to medical workers, and supporting workers in health facilities will be prioritized in the first batch of COVID-19 vaccination.

Each region will submit the respective vaccine requirement to the Committee on COVID-19 Response and National Economic Recovery.

The vaccination will be conducted in accordance with the good distribution practices for drugs (CDOB), the minister pointed out.

"Hopefully, the COVID-19 vaccination would be conducted on time and run smoothly. Hence, the pandemic can be overcome to protect all people and keep them healthy and productive during social and economic activities," he stated.

As many as 1.2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine ordered from China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd arrived at the Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Banten, late on Sunday.

The vaccine was transported aboard a Garuda Indonesia's special cargo plane Boeing 777-300 EA.
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Translator: Aditya R, Sri Haryati
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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