During a press conference here on Monday, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stated that the number of Sinovac vaccines that Indonesia had received reached 33 million doses and 153. 9 million doses in bulk thus far.
This figure is calculated based on the first arrival of COVID-19 vaccines exactly 10 months ago, thereby constituting the 50th batch of these vaccine doses to have been received, he added.
The minister opined that this is a form of real effort by the government to ensure the availability of stocks to meet the COVID-19 vaccine requirements of Indonesians.
He underlined that the government had always ensured the safety, quality, and efficacy of every vaccine type received by Indonesia.
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In addition, vaccines available in Indonesia have also cleared the evaluation process by the Drug and Food Control Agency (BPOM) as well as obtained recommendation from Indonesia and the Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI), WHO, and experts, he noted.
"Citizens do not need to hesitate or worry about receiving vaccination since all of the vaccine brands are effective. Hence, they do not need to be picky. The best vaccines are the ones that are available now," Hartarto stressed.
The minister also emphasized the importance of strengthening 3M -- washing hands, wearing mask, and maintaining distance -- and 3T -- tracing, testing, and treatment -- for health recovery, productivity revival, and to end the pandemic.
"We will continue to remain alert, and to this end, Indonesia has to continue to prepare itself to prevent the surfacing of other waves," he noted.
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Translator: Astrid Habibah, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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