Govt Maps Out Strategies to Anticipate Impact of Covid-19 Vaccine Embargo
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9 April 2021 09:02 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said his side has drawn up four strategies to anticipate the impact of the Covid-19 vaccine embargo.
“First, protect the existing supplies, open vaccination programs under mutual cooperation scheme, seek reserve sources from China and the US,” Budi said at a meeting with the House of Representatives (DPR) on Thursday, April 8, 2021.
The vaccine embargo by India affected the supply of 100 million doses of vaccine from GAVI and AstraZeneca to Indonesia. “We are negotiating to secure the previously promised supplies,” he added.
Budi said the government had asked GAVI to fulfill its promise and find a way to procure the vaccine for Indonesia. He had also written to the GAVI CEO in Geneva and the Director-General of WHO. There is a plan to hold a video conference on the issue, he informed.
The second strategy is to reach vaccination targets through the mutual cooperation scheme, a special inoculation program for workers provided by the company. There are 35 million available doses for this private vaccination program.
The third strategy is to find reserves by adding 90-100 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine. According to Budi, the Chinese government is proven to be consistent in fulfilling its promises in vaccine shipment. He also hoped that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is willing to hold high-level talks with the Chinese government to ensure the additional vaccines.
The fourth strategy is to get Covid-19 vaccine reserves to the United States. Budi Gunadi claimed he had started diplomacy and lobbying with the U.S. to supply vaccines for Indonesia.
Read: 5 Covid-19 Vaccines Awaiting Indonesia's EUA
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