"Indonesia remains committed to fighting for fair distribution and access for COVID-19 prevention products," Marsudi noted in a meeting with the Ethiopian minister of health on the sidelines of the High Level Week of the 77th Sessions of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, as quoted in a press statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.
The COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) cooperation program could play its role in strengthening the capacity of developing countries and the global health architecture in the future, Marsudi remarked.
"COVAX can help better prepare for other potential pandemics because COVAX's work mandate will be extended until 2023," she added.
As a forum for multilateral cooperation, COVAX has proven that multilateralism works effectively, according to the minister.
To date, at least 1.84 billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccine had been delivered by COVAX to various countries through multilateral channels.
A total of 79 countries have achieved the vaccination target of at least 70 percent, including Indonesia.
Through COVAX, Indonesia has received 130,662,975 -- or 25.6 percent -- of free COVID-19 vaccine doses.
Meanwhile, Minister Tadesse said that the structure of COVAX should be adjusted to the developments of the pandemic in order to increase the capacity of countries to prepare for other potential pandemics.
The two ministers agreed that in future, COVAX should continue to work with WHO as well as ensure countries have the necessary resources to accelerate and develop their national health strategies.
The Indonesian foreign minister and the Ethiopian minister of health along with the Canadian Minister of International Development are the Co-Chairs of the COVAX Advance Market Commitment Engagement Group (AMC-EG).
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Translator: Yuni A Sinaga, Fardah
Editor: Sri Haryati
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