COVID-19 Vaccine Stock Is Running Out But Don't Worry, Bio Farma Produces 20 Million More

JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the Task Force for Handling COVID-19 Wiku Adisasmito admitted that the reduced capacity of people who are vaccinated against COVID-19 per day is due to the depletion of vaccine stocks.

To date, 11,432,498 people have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccination and 6,488,197 vaccines for the second dose.

"The limited number of vaccines requires the government to regulate the rate of the COVID-19 vaccine," Wiku said in the Presidential Secretariat Youtube broadcast, Thursday, April 22.

However, Wiku asked the public not to worry because PT Bio Farma is currently producing vaccines obtained from the bulk (raw material) vaccines from abroad.

"There will be an additional 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine produced by PT Bio Farma, so it is hoped that the vaccination program in April May 2021 can continue," said Wiku.

Meanwhile, for long-term vaccine needs, the government continues to support domestic vaccine production. With a note, vaccine development is carried out according to ethical and scientific principles.

"The government asks community groups who are included in the vaccination priority and are in good health to be able to participate in the vaccination program so that they can be protected from COVID-19. The government continues to ensure that the vaccines used are safe and have halal efficacy and have minimal side effects," he explained.

It is known, currently there are 11,101,291 people who have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccination and 6,131,887 vaccines in the second dose. Meanwhile, the total target of vaccination stages 1 and 2 reached 40,349,051 people.

The next stage of vaccination will be carried out for 63.9 million vulnerable people or people living in areas with high risk of infection. Then, other communities as many as 77.7 million people. This program will be carried out from April 2021 to March 2022.