TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin asked the public wishing to get the Covid-19 vaccine to be patient, as the distribution process is carried out in stages. Besides, the vaccine is still being fought over by the international community to date.

“All countries compete for the vaccines. Many have not been able to get the vaccine. Of the total 7.8 billion human population on earth, 70 percent or about 5.5 billion people need 11 billion vaccines to achieve herd immunity, so it takes a gradual process and time,” said Budi while reviewing the vaccination program at the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) office in Jakarta, Wednesday, March 3.

According to him, the competition is not easy since all countries are in need of it to get out of the crisis. Indonesia, he mentioned, is lucky for having the vaccine and conducting vaccination since early this year, while several other Asian countries just started the program a few days ago.

“Several developed countries have just kicked off vaccination, so we are grateful that Indonesia can get it already, because (vaccines) are still being scrambled around the world,” Budi remarked.

He asserted that the government will keep speeding up vaccinations to achieve herd immunity. By June, it was hoped 20 percent of the population received the vaccine.

To achieve herd immunity, 70 percent of people aged 18 years and over must be vaccinated. Budi hoped 181 million people could get vaccines.

“The vaccination is rolled out gradually, so please be patient. Perhaps by June, 20 percent of the population can be vaccinated. We are trying to provide as many vaccines as possible,” Budi Gunadi said.

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ANTARA