By the end of the year, another 74 million doses of the vaccine will be received. Of the 74 million, around 15 million are what remain from contracts in early 2021, which will be sent after June until the end of the year. The remaining 50 million mor
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia will still receive some 74 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine until the end of 2022, for which the government needs adequate cold storage space to store them.



Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin remarked that most of the upcoming vaccines will come from grants from other countries. He delivered the statement after a meeting at the Presidential Palace Complex on Tuesday.



"By the end of the year, another 74 million doses of the vaccine will be received. Of the 74 million, around 15 million are what remain from contracts in early 2021, which will be sent after June until the end of the year. The remaining 50 million more are grants," he remarked.



He stated that the vaccines were gifted by developed countries since they had additional vaccine stocks.



They had selected Indonesia to receive COVID-19 vaccines, as the country had shown rapid growth in the vaccination rate. Thus, the gifted vaccines could be used before they expired.



Sadikin stated that the government will also destroy the expired COVID-19 vaccines that were still being refrigerated in order to accommodate the new COVID-19 vaccine stocks until the end of the year.



"We feel that the fridge is full of COVID-19 vaccine doses, some of which are expired. Therefore, we propose to the president that vaccines that have expired in the regions be destroyed," Budi stated.



The expired vaccines will be destroyed in accordance with the applicable regulations. It would involve the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency, the Attorney General’s Office, and authorities.



Moreover, to ensure that the fridges in each region could accommodate the prospective stock, President Jokowi has ordered for immediate distribution of the booster or third-dose vaccines to the public.



"Mr. President also gave directives, as quite a lot of vaccines still have to come, with another 71 million units until the end of the year, so booster (vaccines) will be (administered more)," he stated.



Translator: Indra A P, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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