Erick Thohir Will Stop Importing Vaccines: We Are Putting Efforts For Red And White Vaccine

SOE Minister Erick Thohir. (Photo: screenshot of IDX Youtube)

JAKARTA - Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir stated that the government will immediately close the faucet on imports of COVID-19 vaccines and replace them with national products developed by local experts.

According to him, this is part of the nation's independence by optimizing the synergy between various related elements.

"To support national health efforts, SOEs are working with the Minister of Health and also the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to try to find a solution not to import vaccines anymore," he said while speaking at the 2021 Capital Market Summit and Expo forum as quoted on Friday, October 15.

Instead, Erick will encourage the use of domestic vaccines which are currently being developed by the government.

"We are trying to find a Red and White vaccine or a BUMN vaccine," he said.

In detail, the Mahaka boss explained that his party was collaborating with competent higher education institutions to help perfect the vaccine for the nation's children. In fact, Erick also does not hesitate to be honest if the government has asked for help from foreign agencies in this program.

“Our Red and White Vaccines work closely with many parties, including from the best universities in Indonesia and from research institutions. In addition, we also open cooperation with universities that are very famous in the world," he said.

Just so you know, until now the government still relies on the supply of COVID-19 vaccines from various countries in the world, both in finished form and raw materials.

Citing data reported by the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu), it is known that until August 31, 2021, the number of COVID-19 vaccines that have been purchased is 94.5 million doses or worth IDR 14.48 trillion.

This information was conveyed by the Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani when holding a virtual press conference on our State Budget on Thursday, September 23, 2021.

Furthermore, of the total imports, 63.1 million of them were the first dose. While the other 35.9 million is the second dose.

Meanwhile, the allocation of funds from the procurement of this vaccine is included in the National Economic Recovery (PEN) budget for the health sector, amounting to IDR 214.96 trillion.

The Ministry of Finance itself through the Directorate General of Customs and Excise noted that the import of vaccines until the third quarter of 2021 was 217 million doses. This number includes procurement in 2020 which is 1.2 million doses.