1.2 Million Sinovac Vaccines Have Arrived In Indonesia, Jokowi: Indonesia's New Hope

Sinovac vaccine arrives at Soetta Airport (Source: YouTube / Presidential Secretariat)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said the COVID-19 vaccine has arrived in the country. This vaccine is produced by Sinovac, a company from China. The number of vaccines that have arrived in the country is 1.2 million doses.

Furthermore, Jokowi said that the arrival of this vaccine is good news and new hope in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

"Today the government has received 1.2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. This vaccine is made by Sinovac, which we have been testing clinically in Bandung since August 2020," he said, quoted from a live broadcast on the Youtube account of the Presidential Secretariat, Sunday, December 6. .

As is known, the COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Indonesia via Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Cengkareng, tonight around 21.25 WIB. The vaccine is transported using an aircraft belonging to the airline PT Garuda Indonesia Tbk (GIAA), an aircraft of the Boeing 777-300ER type.

Vaccines are transported using a special container labeled ENVIROTAINER coded RAP81179PC. Several officers were seen spraying the newly arrived counter.

The former governor of DKI Jakarta said the government is working on additional vaccines. It is estimated that as many as 1.8 million doses will arrive in early January 2021.

"Apart from the finished vaccine, this month there will be 15 million doses of vaccine and January 30 million doses of raw materials which will be further processed by Bio Farma," he said.

As is well known, there are two categories of vaccinations. First, government vaccines. This vaccine will be provided free of charge to priority groups.

As for those who fall into the priority group are medical personnel, TNI, Polri, and the poor who are registered at BPJS Kesehatan.

The second is independent vaccination. This category is intended for people who are not in the priority group. People can vaccinate independently by buying themselves on their own accord.

Previously, BUMN Minister Erick Thohir said that the government would still prioritize giving vaccines to residents aged 18 to 59 years.

Furthermore, Erick said this was because the Sinovac vaccine, which will be used in this early stage of vaccination, was tested on residents aged 18 to 59 years. Meanwhile, the initial target to be immunized is 67 percent.

"Given the very high but still limited demand for vaccines, the government is eager to ensure the vaccination journey is as transparent as possible and the government prepares as well as possible," he said in a webinar, Tuesday, November 24.