Deputy Minister Of Health: Indonesia's Vaccination Exceeds WHO Target

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JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Health, Dante Saksono Harbuwono, said COVID-19 vaccination in Indonesia had exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) target.

"So WHO is targeting 40 percent of vaccination achievements in existing countries, at least in December 2021. And we have achieved more than that", said Dante in the IDX Channel Economic Outlook 2022 quoted by Antara, Wednesday, December 15

On December 13, 49.7 percent of the targeted 208.26 million vaccination recipients had received the full dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Meanwhile, recipients of the first dose of vaccination have reached 70.7 percent of the target.

"We must do several accelerations so that the herd immunity target is achieved maximally. Some efforts are being made to accelerate the supply of vaccines", he added.

The government has also started vaccination for children aged 6-11 years. The booster vaccine will also be carried out starting January 1, 2022, where people who receive government assistance will get the third dose of COVID-19 vaccination for free.

"The second scheme is a paid booster vaccination, which is included in the private sector in procurement and implementation. In procuring the vaccine, it must be registered with WHO and obtain an emergency use permit from National Food and Drugs Agency (BPOM)", he said.

However, the need for two doses of vaccine to achieve the herd immunity target will still be prioritized and is targeted to be completed no later than the first quarter of 2022. Meanwhile, the government will coordinate the number and types of vaccines to be imported by the private sector for booster vaccination.

"For the paid booster vaccination, it will be done in private places, but for the free booster vaccination program it will only be done at public health centers and government hospitals", he said.

The Deputy Minister of Health believes that the supply of vaccines for the booster vaccination program will also be sufficient because the government is currently trying to find a red and white vaccine. When the trial process has been completed, the supply of red and white vaccines will increase the supply of imported vaccines.