Vaccine Arrival Does Not Mean Instant Control Over COVID-19: Sri Mulyani
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11 December 2020 17:01 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani on Friday asserted that people must continue to abide by existing health protocols despite the recent arrival of COVID-19 vaccine doses produced by China’s Sinovac Life Science Corporate Ltd.
“Even though we have imported the vaccines, that does not mean that COVID could be controlled soon,” said Sri Mulyani in one of Tempo’s virtual events.
She then revealed that the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in Indonesia had reached 590 thousand with 18 thousand deaths and left the economy crippled, which was why she underscored the importance to be disciplined with health protocols to avert worsening the situation.
Previously reported, Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto said the Finance Ministry's Budget Agency for the State General Treasurer had earmarked Rp637.3 billion—roughly US$45.4 million in today's currency—to purchase three million doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
"For 2021, an additional budget of Rp17 trillion has been allocated," Terawan said in a work meeting with the House of Representatives' Commission IX, yesterday, Dec. 10.
Read: Sri Mulyani on COVID-19 Vaccine: This Is Our Game Changer
MUHAMMAD HENDARTYO
