JAKARTA - The government through the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) confirmed that Indonesia has imported vaccines worth USD 443.4 million or approximately IDR 6.49 trillion (exchange rate Of IDR 14.625) during the first quarter of 2021.
Head of BPS Suhariyanto said the figure jumped 1.315 percent compared to the first quarter of 2020.
"Of course this increase is related to pandemic conditions that have not occurred at the beginning of last year", he said in a virtual press conference, Thursday, April 15.
Suhariyanto added that vaccine imports throughout March 2021 amounted to USD 178.7 million, or 102.5 percent of the realization in February 2020. The BPS itself classifies vaccines in imported goods coded HS 30022090.
"Keep in mind that this is the realization figure of vaccine imports as a whole and not only limited to the COVID-19 vaccine", he said.
For information, on March 25, Indonesia has received 16 million additional Sinovac vaccines imported from China to cope with the impact of the pandemic in the country.
Meanwhile, vaccine purchase funds are included in the National Economic Recovery (PEN) 2021 budget scheme totaling IDR 699.43 trillion.
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Most recently, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) confirmed that it has approved an Indonesian government loan worth USD 450 million or approximately IDR 6.5 trillion (exchange rate of IDR 14.568) to assist PT Bio Farma in obtaining and distributing the COVID-19 vaccine.
The funds will initially be used to procure at least 65 million additional doses of vaccine for Indonesians.
Previously, the ADB has provided a USD 3 million Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund grant approved in April 2020 to help the Ministry of Health distribute critical medical equipment and supplies.
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