TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto expressed belief that the Gotong Royong Vaccination Program will expedite the process of achieving the national target to build herd immunity in Indonesia.

To this end, Hartarto praised the initiative raised by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to offer the free vaccination program through administration of the Gotong Royong Vaccine to workers in the private sector.

"In parallel with the government’s vaccination program, the Gotong Royong Vaccination will be offered free of charge too, as it will be covered by companies and use a different vaccine brand. Thus, this will accelerate the efforts to build herd immunity in Indonesia," the minister noted at the Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Banten, on Tuesday, on the arrival of imported vaccine doses in the country.

Hartarto confirmed the distribution of some 76,910 doses of the vaccine used in the Gotong Royong Vaccination program.

Until May 23, some 21,616 doses were distributed to workers from 27 companies and 18 health facilities in Jakarta, West Java, Banten, Riau Islands, and North Maluku.

"Some 76,910 doses for the Gotong Royong Vaccination have been distributed. Up until today, some 21,616 shots were administered as per May 23," he stated.

The government is optimistic of one million shots being administered on a daily basis under the vaccination program. Distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine is expected to boost the people's confidence to conduct activities and to get the Indonesian economy moving.

"Together, we increase optimism. In that way, it will strengthen expectations of the Indonesian economy rebounding in 2021, with growth of between 4.5 percent and 5.3 percent," the minister remarked.

Although the government is in the process of implementing their vaccination program, the coordinating minister urged the public to continue to apply health protocols to avert further transmission of COVID-19.

To create herd immunity, the government is targeting 181 Indonesians to receive the COVID-19 vaccine shots. The national vaccination campaign is targeted for completion at the end of 2021.

Read: Private Gotong Royong Vaccination; 5 Aspects You Need to Know

ANTARA