Minister Of Health: Indonesia Needs 426 Million Doses Of COVID-19 Vaccine

JAKARTA - Minister of Health (Menkes) Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that Indonesia needed 426 million doses of vaccine. There are four types of COVID-19 vaccines that will be used by the public and coronavirus patients.

"This vaccine will be given to 70 percent of the Indonesian people, totaling 270 million, roughly the figure is 188 million people", Budi said in a webinar with the theme 'COVID-19 Vaccine for Indonesia Awakens', Saturday, January 30.

Budi said that 188 million Indonesians who would receive the vaccine were selected based on the age group over 18 years old. In addition, it will be narrowed back by separating groups of pregnant women, people who are exposed to COVD-19, and people who have a history of certain diseases.

In addition, the number of vaccines needed is 363 million doses because each person has to undergo two vaccinations. Meanwhile, the remaining 15 percent is prepared as a reserve.

"Each one needs to be injected twice so we need 363 million doses of vaccine. So 426 million doses of vaccine are needed. This is what is needed to vaccinate 70 percent of the entire population of Indonesia", he explained.

Minister of Health Budi explained that Indonesia had received 125 million doses of Sinovak, then 50 million vaccines for Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Novakvax, each of which amounted to 50 million doses. The four vaccine variants will be used for the vaccination process in Indonesia.

"These 4 vaccines with different sources protect the risk if countries that block the delivery of the vaccine. As recently in Europe where European countries are due to lack of vaccines", he said.

In addition, continued Budi, Indonesia is also collaborating with the World Health Organization or WHO. The form of cooperation is to actively participate in the Gavi organization which often provides vaccines to developing countries.

"Gavi is promising, although it is not certain, he promises 3 percent to 20 percent of the population, of which between 18 million and 108 million doses of vaccine are free for the Indonesian people to give", he said.