Govt Reckons COVID-19 Vaccine to be Available by November 2020

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government gauged that supplies of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine will be available by November 2020 in line with the production capacities of China's several vaccine producers cooperating with Indonesia.

Supplies of the COVID-19 vaccine have been secured as was disclosed during a meeting between the Indonesian delegation and the representatives of Cansino, G42, Sinopharm, and Sinovac in China on Oct 10, according to the Indonesian government's statement on Monday.

At the meeting, Indonesia was represented by Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan, Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto, Indonesian Ambassador to China Djauhari Oratmangun, and PT Bio Farma's President Director, Honesti Basyir.

Vaccine doses pledged by the partnering pharmaceutical companies to Indonesia vary based on their respective production capacity and commitment to other buyers.

Cansino has vowed to supply 100 thousand single doses of the vaccine in November 2020 and some 15-20 million doses in 2021, while G42 and Sinopharm pledged to supply 15 million double doses of the vaccine this year, of which five million are promised to be provided in November 2020.

Sinovac has also pledged to supply three million single doses of the COVID-19 vaccine until the end of December 2020. Additionally, it has promised to provide 15 million doses in bulk form.

Of the three million doses, 1.5 million will have been available in the first week of November, while the remaining 1.5 million doses will have been supplied in the first week of December 2020.

Meanwhile, Sinopharm has vowed to supply 50 million double doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in 2021, while Cansino and Sinovac pledged to provide 20 million single doses and 125 million double doses respectively.

"In the early phase, we are prioritizing vaccine injections to those on the frontlines in the battle against COVID-19, including medical workers and paramedics, military and police personnel, teaching staff, and those involving in public services," Minister Putranto affirmed.

The government will extend assistance to all on the frontlines that are financially incapable and registered as the recipients of contribution assistance (PBI) at the Healthcare and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) by covering their vaccine costs, he revealed.

The Health Ministry has readied a COVID-19 vaccination program, and to this end, it has adopted requisite measures, including ensuring the preparedness of health facilities and simulation at public health centers in the country.

Since the end of September 2020, health workers have also received training on the COVID-19 vaccination's standard operating procedures, he stated.

Novel coronavirus infections initially arose in the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019.

Since then, COVID-19 has spread to over 215 countries and territories, including 34 provinces of Indonesia, with a massive spurt in death toll.

To tackle this COVID-19 pandemic, Indonesia is leaving no stone unturned to develop a vaccine to fight the virus.

Currently, in addition to the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine, Indonesian scientists are working on a vaccine named after the country's national flag, Merah Putih (Red and White).

Read also: Indonesia COVID-19 Daily Update: 3,267 New Cases

ANTARA