Sri Mulyani: The Government Has Spent Rp.637.3 Billion For The COVID-19 Vaccine

Minister of Finance, Sri Mulyani. (Photo: Setkab)

JAKARTA - Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati said the government through the Ministry of Health has spent a budget of IDR 637.3 billion to buy the COVID-19 vaccine from Sinovac and Cansino in 2020.

"For 2020, the Ministry of Health has issued a budget of Rp.637.3 billion for vaccines, namely 3 million doses of Sinovac and 100,000 doses of Cansino," he said, at a press conference on 'The Arrival of the COVID-19 Vaccine', Monday, December 7.

Furthermore, Sri Mulyani said, vaccines would be imported gradually as scheduled by the government. For the initial stage, 1.2 million Sinovac vaccines have arrived in Indonesia. This vaccine will be used in early 2021.

"Meanwhile, as many as 1.8 million Sinovac vaccines are planned to arrive in January 2021. The vaccination targets also follow the provisions of the Ministry of Health," he said.

This state treasurer added, the Ministry of Health has also spent a budget of IDR277.45 billion. The budget is for the purchase of needles or syringes, alcohol swabs, and safety boxes for the vaccination program.

Not only that, said Sri Mulyani, the Ministry of Health also issued a budget of IDR 190 billion for the COVID-19 vaccine storage facility. In details, 249 refrigerators for vaccines, 249 units of cold boxes, 249 units of vaccine temperature monitoring devices, 498 vaccine carriers, and personal protective equipment.

"Because we know this vaccine must be stored in a good temperature. So, a cooling device is needed to keep it awake," he explained.

Prepare IDR 35.1 Trillion

Sri Mulyani said that the government has allocated IDR 35.1 trillion for the vaccination program and vaccine procurement in the 2020 budget year. The Sinovac vaccine, which until last night in Indonesia was also included.

As is known, the COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Indonesia via Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Cengkareng, last night at around 21.25 WIB. The vaccine is transported using an aircraft belonging to the airline PT Garuda Indonesia Tbk, a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

Vaccines are transported using a special container labeled ENVIROTAINER coded RAP81179PC. Several officers immediately sprayed the newly arrived containers.

The state treasurer said the vaccine procurement was carried out through assignments to state-owned companies, namely PT Bio Farma (Persero), and involved all domestic and foreign institutions.

"We allocate Rp35.1 trillion from the 2020 budget for the procurement of vaccines and health care. Procurement is planned to run for several years from 2020 to 2021 and 2022 as needed. Vaccination will be carried out based on vaccine criteria and priorities," he said in a statement. press conference 'The Arrival of the COVID-19 Vaccine', Monday, 7 December.

In addition to allocating a budget of IDR 35.1 trillion, said Sri Mulyani, the government also allocated funds for vaccination in the 2021 State Budget (APBN).

"In 2021, the total health budget reaches Rp. 169.7 trillion, of which for handling vaccines and handling COVID-19 is Rp. 60.5 trillion for 2021," he explained.

The IDR 60.5 trillion fund consists of IDR 18 trillion to anticipate the procurement of the COVID-19 vaccine, IDR 3.7 trillion to anticipate immunization or vaccination programs, IDR 1.3 trillion to purchase laboratory infrastructure, research and development, and PCR.

"The Ministry of Health will procure Rp1.2 trillion and the POM Agency Rp. 100 billion," he said.

Not only that, the government also still reserves the National Health Insurance (JKN) contribution for the poor, aka participants of the Class 3 Social Security Administering Body program.