TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government of Germany is happy that Indonesia finally received its first batch of AstraZeneca vaccines yesterday. They said that the Covid-19 vaccine supply is part of Germany's Rp25-trillion contribution for COVAX, aimed at giving equal access to vaccines for developing nations.

"Germany is proud to be one of COVAX’s largest donors with a contribution (total) of more than 2.2 million euros. Nothing is safe until everyone is safe," German Ambassador to Indonesia, Peter Schoof, said on Tuesday, March 9.

Schoof said that Germany opts to contribute via COVAX, as the latter can guarantee fair and equitable access for developing countries.

Yesterday, the first delivery of AstraZeneca vaccines arrived in Indonesia via COVAX. Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said Indonesia is given a quota of 11.7 million doses of AstraZeneca by COVAX.

The minister said that the 11.7 million doses is only for the first batch, and Indonesia will receive more batches.

COVAX is an institution established by the WHO for the purpose of providing equitable access to vaccines. WHO urges countries planning to donate the COVID-19 vaccine to do it via COVAX, to ensure that the spread is evenly distributed. The WHO and COVAX are targeting all countries to have received their rations for the COVID-19 vaccine by the first quarter of 2021.

Read: AstraZeneca Vaccines Safe for Use, Says BPOM

Istman Musaharun Pramadiba