1.8 mln doses of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine arrive in Indonesia

By Agencies Published: Jan 01, 2021 11:45 AM

A truck loaded with boxes containing China's COVID-19 vaccine products are seen at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Indonesia, Dec. 31, 2020. A total of 1.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine made by the Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech on Thursday arrived in Indonesia, according to Indonesian government officials.Photo:Xinhua

A total of 1.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine made by the Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech on Thursday arrived in Indonesia, according to Indonesian government officials.

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said this is the second batch of the Sinovac vaccine delivery for Indonesia, and that the first batch of 1.2 million doses arrived on Dec. 6.

"With this arrival, it means that there are already 3 million doses of Sinovac vaccine in Indonesia," Marsudi told a virtual press conference.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said vaccination is one of Indonesia's main strategies to solve the COVID-19 pandemic, adding, "It would take more than 12 months to complete the vaccination program, so we always keep up to health protocols."

Indonesia is planning to vaccinate 181.5 million of its population next year in order to achieve herd immunity and break the chain of coronavirus transmissions.

The first period of vaccination will be from January to April 2021, for inoculating 1.3 million medical workers, 17.4 million public workers, and 21.5 million elderly people.

The second period will run from April 2021 to March 2022 for vaccination of 63.9 million vulnerable people and 77.4 million people of other groups.

Workers load a box containing China's COVID-19 products at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Indonesia, Dec. 31, 2020. A total of 1.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine made by the Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech on Thursday arrived in Indonesia, according to Indonesian government officials.Photo:Xinhua

Boxes containing China's COVID-19 vaccine products are seen at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Indonesia, Dec. 31, 2020. A total of 1.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine made by the Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech on Thursday arrived in Indonesia, according to Indonesian government officials.Photo:Xinhua