This year, we will import around Rp47 trillion, with the entire implementation of the vaccination program costing around Rp58 trillion
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government has allocated a budget of Rp47 trillion for COVID-19 vaccine imports this year, with Rp58 trillion allotted for the vaccination program in Indonesia, Deputy Finance Minister Suahasil Nazara stated.

“Our constraint is the supply of vaccines, as we have not produced our own. This year, we will import around Rp47 trillion, with the entire implementation of the vaccination program costing around Rp58 trillion," Nazara remarked during an online discussion on Saturday.

Nazara emphasized that vaccination was an important key to help Indonesia emerge out of the health crisis. To this end, the vaccination program will continue to be boosted both for Java and Bali as well as outside the two regions.

Based on the covid19.go.id page, some 92.77 million COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered to Indonesians as of August 27, comprising 59.42 million doses of the first vaccine and 33.35 million doses of the second vaccine.

Nazara ensured that the government will continue to accelerate the vaccination program, as the target has been set to vaccinate at least 220 million people out of the total 270 million Indonesians.

"In total, 93 million vaccine injections are available, but our population is 270 million and our target is 220 million. Hence, we have to secure 440 million doses of the vaccine," he explained.

Increasing the realization of the vaccination program is one of the short- and medium-term agendas in future. Nazara is optimistic that various related stakeholders would also participate to expedite vaccination in Indonesia, starting from the Ministry of Health to health workers and the TNI and Polri.

“Those running health services across the country should take a cue from the vaccination in Java. We are now starting to consider if midwives can also help to vaccinate. We keep thinking about who else can help with the vaccination,” he stated.

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Translator: Astrid H, Resinta S
Editor: Sri Haryati
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