"Since we identified that there were around 18 million doses of vaccines that were about to expire, we have made efforts to accelerate vaccinations by cooperating with Indonesia Defense Forces (TNI) and the National Police (Polri) through the 'Serbuan' vaccination activity," Tarmizi informed on Wednesday.
The 'Serbuan' vaccine activity was held throughout February 2022 targeting five thousand participants, or an average of 2,500 people per day, especially the elderly, she said.
In addition, the government also accelerated vaccinations for the elderly and the general population by reducing the interval for the booster dose, she disclosed.
From six months, the government shortened the interval between the second and booster dose to only three months, she said.
Another effort carried out by the government was to validate vaccine stocks in the regions to match the predicted number of potentially expired vaccines, Tarmizi added.
"We are aiming to validate vaccine stocks since some 18 million vaccines with a potential expiration date are recorded in the system. After checking it, it turns out that many areas have not been updated, so the number does not reach 18 million doses," she noted.
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However, until now, the Ministry of Health is still calculating the exact number of expired vaccines at the end of February 2022.
Tarmizi, who is also secretary at the Directorate General of Public Health at the Ministry of Health, said that a recent study by the Indonesian Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) showed there were a number of expired vaccines whose shelf life could be extended.
"Especially AstraZeneca has extended its distribution period, so it is very likely that the number of expired vaccines will not reach 18 million doses," she said.
Tarmizi said the COVID-19 vaccines which were expected to expire were part of donations from a number of friendly countries.
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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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