Indonesia Prepares Covid-19 Vaccine for 65% Population

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia has prepared Covid-19 vaccines for around 65 percent of its population, with medical workers and security personnel given priority. Indonesia has a population of more than 270 million, with 88,622 active cases of Covid-19 as of December 10.

Minister of Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, who is the chairman of the Committee for Handling Covid-19 and National Economic Recovery (KPCPEN), said that health workers such as doctors and nurses, as well as police and TNI officers, will receive the first injections.

Airlangga asked the public to be patient, as the vaccines arrive in batches thus priorities need to be set. "This priority setting follows the standards given by WHO and also through ITAGI (Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization), as well as experts," he said.

The national vaccination period is estimated to start at the end of this year and last until 2022. Even though vaccines are available, Airlangga reminded the public to continue implementing Covid-19 protocols, including wearing masks and physical distancing.

The government has prepared vaccines for about 65 percent of the total population between the age of 18 and 59. For the Program Vaccine paid using BPJS premium, 32 million doses will be given for free. Meanwhile, 75 million doses are allocated for the Independent Vaccine, which means they are not free.

Airlangga said that in 2021 there will be 1.8 million doses of vaccine in ready form. The government also received 15 million doses in December in the form of raw materials, which Bio Farma will study for the purpose of self-producing the vaccines.

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