TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Health Ministry’s spokesperson for COVID-19 vaccination, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said vaccination coverage in Indonesia has surpassed the WHO’s target.

The WHO targeted to vaccinate at least 10% of the population of every country by the end of September, at least 40% by the end of the year, and 70% globally by the middle of 2022.

“Indonesia has managed to achieve it faster than the WHO’s target,” said Nadia in an official statement on Tuesday, November 16.

As of 6 p.m. Sunday, November 15, 215.6 million doses of vaccine have been administered to 130.3 million people, or 62.5 percent of the target of 208.2 million completely vaccinated people. Of the figure, 84.1 million people or 40.4 percent have received the second dose or are fully vaccinated. Additionally, a1.19 million health workers have got the vaccine booster or 81 percent of the target.

Indonesia has a total of 342.5 million available doses in finished and bulk forms. The last arrival batch was 4 million doses of Sinovac on Saturday, November 13.

“No need to choose a vaccine brand, but use the available ones. The government guarantees that the vaccines are safe, have good quality, and are efficacious,” Nadia added.

She further reminded the public that vaccines support the body to be more resistant to viral attacks, could prevent symptoms and hospitalization, as well as reduce the risk of death.

“However, it (COVID-19 vaccination) does not make a person 100% immune to viral infections, so they can still be infected and infect others. Vaccinated people must continue to comply with the 5M health protocols,” Nadia underlined.

Read: 84,161,759 Indonesians Have Received Second Dose of Covid-19 Vaccine: Ministry

DEWI NURITA