Health Minister Boosts AstraZeneca Vaccinations before Expiration Date

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin on Friday announced that he will accelerate the vaccination program that uses the AstraZeneca vaccine on intended recipients. This is due to the fact that the first batch of 1.1 million doses that arrived to Indonesia from the COVAX facility will expire by the end of May 2021. 

The Health Minister is eyeing to inject 500,000 daily doses this week alone to accelerate the vaccination program. 

“Look at the track record and see which [region] that could quickly conduct it; it's Bali, East Java, and for the Armed Forces (TNI) and Police personnel. We gave the latter 200,000 vaccine doses to swiftly complete it,” said the Health Minister in a written statement in the Ministry’s website on March 26. 

In the future, he said, the goal will be increased to 1 million daily doses and gradually increase the target along with the availability of the AstraZeneca vaccines. 

There are 3 million doses available from January to March and with the daily target of 100,000 daily doses means that it can be complete within the sixth week of Covid-19 vaccinations. 

Meanwhile in March-April, there are 15 million doses available, which means the 500,000 daily vaccinations is expected to complete within one month. 

"It will then be increased to 25 million doses in May and June so the daily vaccination goal can reach 750,000 daily doses. And starting in July, there will be 50 million that will enable 1.5 million daily vaccinations," said Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin.

Read: Health Minister Budi Gunadi Grateful for Securing AstraZeneca Vaccine

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