Indonesia Receives Pfizer Vaccine Donation From COVAX, Total Is 1,257,750 Doses

Indonesia again receives Pfizer vaccine donations from COVAX (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Indonesia has again received a donation of Pfizer vaccine from the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX), which is the arrival of the 201st stage of the vaccine. The total is 1,257,750 doses.

"On behalf of the government and people of Indonesia, we express our deepest gratitude to COVAX," said Director General of Information and Public Communication (IKP) of the Ministry of Communications and Informatics Usman Kansong, quoted from Antara, Sunday, January 23.

Usman said, Indonesia has been actively establishing international and multilateral cooperation, including through the WHO Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator COVAX Facility. COVAX is a global initiative aimed at equal access to COVID-19 vaccines.

Usman said that through COVAX, Indonesia continues to actively campaign for equal access to vaccines for all countries in the world.

"Indonesia plays an active role in efforts to equalize access to vaccines for countries in the world," he said.

Usman ensured that the vaccine that had arrived would soon be distributed proportionally to areas in need, within the framework of the national vaccination program.

The government, he said, has also announced that this vaccination program will continue to be accelerated and expanded until it is targeted to be completed in 2022.

"Therefore, the continuous arrival of vaccines is very important in order to maintain vaccine stocks so that the vaccination program can run smoothly," he said.

In addition to guaranteeing the availability of vaccine stocks, efforts to accelerate are also carried out by providing education to the public, especially regarding untrue news or hoaxes that are widely circulated.

He said, in some areas, hoaxes played a role in slowing vaccination. People are made afraid and worried about the effects of vaccination, which are exaggerated and exaggerated.

Usman said the government had ensured that the vaccine was safe and efficacious, the vaccination process was carried out and closely monitored, and anticipation had been prepared in the event of a Post-Immunization Adverse Event (AEFI).

"The COVID-19 vaccine used is safe and efficacious, it has received permission from the POM Agency. Don't hesitate and delay vaccination just because you hear rumors or false news circulating," he said.

On the other hand, continued Usman, increased vigilance was also carried out in line with the emergence of cases of the Omicron variant that had entered Indonesia. Therefore, the government does not forget to remind the public to maintain health protocols.

"I ask all parties to re-enforce health protocols and immediately vaccinate," said Usman.