However, at the same time, Indonesia also leaves no stone unturned to provide equitable access to vaccines for all nations since the battle against COVID-19 will be futile if unequal access to vaccine still persistsJakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has continued to work hard to channel all resources into securing COVID-19 vaccine supplies to cater to the national demand, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated on Monday.
“However, at the same time, Indonesia also leaves no stone unturned to provide equitable access to vaccines for all nations since the battle against COVID-19 will be futile if unequal access to vaccine still persists,” Jokowi stated at the annual session of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) and a Joint Session of the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) here.
The head of state noted that by conducting vaccine diplomacy, Indonesia had also demonstrated to the world its active contribution toward “the establishment of a world order based on freedom, perpetual peace and social justice.”
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Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi earlier confirmed that Indonesia had secured and received a total of 185 million vaccine doses, in ready-to-use and bulk form.
Marsudi also highlighted the government's sustained efforts to expedite the vaccination drive, whilst concurrently maintaining mobility restrictions to stem the transmission of COVID-19 in the country.
Speaking in connection with the vaccination drive, the minister remarked that Indonesia had, until now, provided over 80 million vaccine doses, or covered about 28.6 percent of the total population through the immunization program.
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“Indonesia is recorded as the 10th-largest country that had distributed over 80 million doses of vaccines,” Marsudi stated at the 6th Global Indonesian Diaspora Network Congress held virtually on Saturday, August 14, 2021.
Amid the current scarcity in vaccine supplies, the procurement process is replete with challenges, according to the minister. However, the government has continued to make serious efforts to secure doses for Indonesia to ensure that any shortfall in domestic supply is met, the minister noted.
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Reporter: Yashinta Difa Pramudyani
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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