This afternoon, Indonesia again received COVID-19 vaccines. We received five million doses of Sinovac's vaccine in the form of finished products
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Five million doses of the Sinovac vaccine have arrived in Indonesia, Friday (August 13), Head of the Drug and Food Control Agency (BPOM) Penny K. Lukito has stated. "This afternoon, Indonesia again received COVID-19 vaccines. We received five million doses of Sinovac's vaccine in the form of finished products," Lukito said when issuing a virtual press statement broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel here, Friday.

The arrival of the Sinovac vaccine had increased the number of vaccines available in the country, she said.

To date, the total number of COVID-19 vaccines in the country is more than 185 million doses, according to her. This marked the government's hard work in administering vaccinations for Indonesian citizens, she added.

"The BPOM continues to supervise the development, cooperation, arrival, and distribution (of vaccines)," she noted.

Starting August 2021, the national vaccination program was expanded with a target of injecting two million doses per day in the hope of the country achieving herd immunity sooner, she explained.

"BPOM appreciates all parties involved in the implementation of vaccination, especially the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the TNI (National Defense Forces), the Police, and other institutions, especially health workers and volunteers, as well as the community who support the acceleration of vaccination," she said.

The BPOM emphasized that it will always carry out supervision, assistance, testing, assessment and ensure that all incoming vaccines are guaranteed from the aspect of safety, quality, and efficacy.

"All the vaccines used have gone through a long process and have received approval and distribution authorization," she assured.

The Indonesian government has begun conducting vaccinations nationwide since January 13, 2021, in a bid to stem the spread of COVID-19, with President Jokowi being the first recipient of the vaccine.

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Translator: Rangga Pandu, Raka Adji
Editor: Suharto
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