The arrival of vaccines shows that the vaccine stock is ensuredJakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia received a total of 5.2 million Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines on Tuesday, as a grant from the Red Cross Society of China and received through a bilateral mechanism.
"The arrival of vaccines shows that the vaccine stock is ensured," Communication and Informatics Minister Johnny G. Plate said in a press statement received here on Tuesday.
The 71st batch of the vaccines that arrived on Tuesday contained 5 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine, while the 72nd batch contained 200 thousand Sinopharm vaccines, he informed.
So far, Indonesia has received 267,550,400 vaccine doses in bulk form, as raw materials, or finished form, official data shows. Meanwhile, the total finished Coronavac vaccines received by Indonesia from Sinovac have reached 58.776 million.
The government will continue to supply vaccines and immediately distribute them across Indonesia, Plate said. The government is aiming to inoculate 70 percent of Indonesians by the end of 2021 to create herd immunity, he noted.
"The government is working hard so that there is no shortage of vaccine stocks," Plate said.
The government is optimizing diplomatic efforts between countries, both bilaterally and multilaterally, to secure vaccines for Indonesia, the minister stated. The arrival of the latest vaccines is a successful manifestation of the Indonesian government's diplomatic efforts, which will continue to be improved and optimized, he added.
The minister then urged regional governments, especially those with low vaccination rates, to expedite their vaccination programs.
As of 6 p.m. on Monday (September 20, 2021), only 27.45 percent of the elderly population targeted by the vaccination program has received the first vaccination dose, while 19.25 has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, he noted.
"Let's collectively encourage the elderly to get vaccinated immediately. Convince them, register them, and take them to the nearest vaccination site," he urged.
The minister also asked citizens to follow the health protocols with a disciplined approach even though the transmission of COVID-19 has declined.
"The government has urged all people to get vaccinated immediately. No need to be picky about vaccines because all vaccines are safe and efficacious," he added.
Related news: Indonesia receives five million Sinovac vaccine doses
Related news: 3rd batch of US-donated 1.1-million Pfizer doses arrive in Indonesia
Related news: COVID-19: First vaccine dose administered to 78.54 million Indonesians
Translator: Natisha A, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
