Jokowi: January We Start Vaccinating COVID-19

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said that the COVID-19 vaccination against people in Indonesia will begin in January 2021. This was conveyed during a visit to the Province of Nangroe Aceh Darusalam.

"I hope, God willing, in January we will start vaccinating," said Jokowi while reviewing the COVID-19 handling post in Aceh Province which was broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat YouTube account, Tuesday, August 25.

Jokowi said this certainty after Indonesia succeeded in cooperating with other countries such as the United Arab Emirates and China. From this cooperation, the former governor of DKI Jakarta said that Indonesia has secured a commitment to procure 290 million doses of vaccine which are expected to be produced in Indonesia and abroad.

However, while waiting for January 2021, Jokowi asked the public to continue implementing health protocols to prevent transmission of COVID-19.

He is the Acting Governor of Aceh Nova Iriansyah, the Head of the Aceh Regional Police and the Military Commander to remind the public to be orderly and disciplined as long as there is no vaccine and the threat of the virus continues.

"This has to be repeated again and again, how very dangerous it is if we don't wear masks. If we crowd in large numbers. Discipline is a factor before the vaccine is carried out," he said.

Previously, Minister of Foreign Affairs (Menlu) Retno Marsudi said Indonesia had secured millions of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. According to him, in 2020, Indonesia has succeeded in securing 20 million to 30 million doses of vaccine.

"For 2020, 20 million-30 million can be secured. Then for 2021, we can secure 290-340 million doses," Retno said in a press conference broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat YouTube account, Monday, August 24.

Certainty regarding the number of vaccines was obtained after Retno and Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir visited China and the United Arab Emirates some time ago.

During the visit, the Foreign Minister said that the government is targeting cooperation to meet the needs of vaccines in the community. "We see the results of the visit are very good and even exceed our initial expectations. We see the results of the visit are very good and even exceed our initial expectations," he said.