Jokowi: 331mn More Vaccine Doses for Indonesia until Year-end

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo or Jokowi said the government continues to roll out Covid-19 vaccines in order to achieve herd immunity. The government has received a commitment to procure up to 331,675,000 doses of vaccines until December 2021.

"Indonesia will get additional vaccines from August until December 2021, amounting to 331,675,000 doses, comprising 258,675,000 ready-to-use doses and 73 million unfixed or waiting for further developments," Jokowi said during the ISEI web seminar on Tuesday, August 31.

The government is targeting to inoculate 70 percent of the population until 2022. Today, Jokowi said, first doses have been administered to 61.5 million people or 29.5 percent of the population. Second doses have been injected to 16.7 percent or 34.8 million people.

Jokowi said vaccine roll-outs must continue even though transmission rate is starting to decline. "Thank God, Covid-19 cases in Indonesia have passed their peak and dropped significantly in the last two weeks," the president said.

Confirmed cases are said to have continued to decline by 86.9 percent. Decreasing rate of transmission comes with higher recoveries and lower bed occupancy rates—down to 27 percent.

Nevertheless, Jokowi asked the public not be off guard and remain vigilant—and for everyone to increase efforts in controlling the pandemic.

In addition to vaccination, Indonesia's pandemic curbing efforts include ensuring the availability of antiviral drugs and oxygen, as well as providing vitamins and drugs packages for infected people who are isolating at home.

Read: Jokowi Warns of Possible COVID-19 Surge Despite Improving Trends

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA