TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia is endeavoring to bolster multilateral cooperation with overseas partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI), to meet its COVID-19 vaccine requirements.

At a meeting with WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Indonesian delegation, headed by Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, accentuated Indonesia's support for the multilateral principle pertaining to COVID-19 vaccine issues.

"Indonesia also emphasizes the importance of strengthening collective support from all states to enable the international community to handle the COVID-19 pandemic soon," she stated at a virtual press conference from Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday.

During the meeting with Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Indonesian delegates exchanged views on new-fangled challenges arising from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world. The delegation also informed him of Indonesia's battle against the virus.

Indonesian delegates also spoke at length of their endeavors to obtain potential COVID-19 vaccine supplies through bilateral bases from China, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, and the United Kingdom while attempting to develop its own vaccine called "Merah Putih".

"We have also informed him of Indonesia's vaccination plan and commitment to maintaining coordination and communication with WHO on stages of the vaccination, starting from preparation to implementation," Marsudi stated.

Over the span of the past few months, the Indonesian government has striven to ensure adequate supply of vaccines for the entire nation.

To explore potential cooperation for the procurement and supply of COVID-19 vaccines, Marsudi, State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir, and a team from the Health Ministry undertook an official visit to the United Kingdom and Switzerland.

Marsudi had earlier revealed that during the visit, the Indonesian delegates had deliberated on matters pertaining to the COVAC Initiative with related parties, including the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and GAVI.

Under the COVAX Initiative, once COVID-19 vaccines are available, they will be procured through the UNICEF Supply Division.

Under the cooperation scheme, the UNICEF has been mandated to coordinate the procurement and supply of the COVID-19 vaccine for over 140 countries, including Indonesia, to allow each nation to have equal access and outreach to the vaccine.

The Indonesian delegation's visit to the UK and Switzerland is also expected to boost mid- and long-term cooperation between state pharmaceutical holding company PT Bio Farma and its overseas partners, Minister Retno Marsudi explained.

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ANTARA