Luhut Asks For 30 Million Sinopharm Vaccines, Chinese Foreign Minister: OK Brother

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. (Photo: Kemenko Marves)

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said the government had ordered the Sinopharm vaccine from China for the mutual cooperation or independent vaccination program.

Coordinating Minister Luhut explained that since the beginning Sinopharm was not included in the list of free vaccines provided by the government. So, he believes that it will not interfere with the vaccination program currently being run by the government.

"For the independent vaccine, we hope that this March will run because Sinopharm is ready. We have talked, only yesterday was the Chinese holiday, so just starting this week we will continue the conversation," he said, in a virtual discussion, Thursday, February 25.

Luhut said, this mutual aid vaccination will gradually enter the country. In March 2021, it is planned that 2 million doses of Sinopharm's vaccine will enter Indonesia.

"So this 2 million in March will come in, we try 3 million, that's our hope. So later all employee employees can be vaccinated immediately. Then in April, May, June, July, that's a total of 15 million to 20 million vaccines. , "he said.

Luhut said he had explored this when he met with the Chinese Foreign Minister some time ago. Luhut also admitted that he had requested that the number of vaccines given reached at least 30 million doses and that the supply could be received by Indonesia as of July 2021.

"So we will allocate them to independent ones, at first the first phase was 100 thousand, 5 million, and 15 million. And I said it could be 15 million and 30 million, and they said 'okay brother, I see what I can do'. But What is certain is that the figure can be increased, "he said.

If a vaccine from China is still lacking, said Luhut, the government will cooperate with other producers such as Novavax and Johnson & Johnson.

"After Sinopharm, we also engage Novavax and Johnson & Johnson, all countries are in contention, there are 180 countries that have not been able to. We have confidence," he said.

Previously, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir said the government needed 7.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine for the mutual cooperation or independent vaccination program proposed by entrepreneurs. He said the interest of private companies in this vaccination program was very big.

"Kadin has (recorded) 6,644 companies registered with Kadin for approximately 7.5 million vaccine needs. Vaccines are important. A total of 360 million or 180 million for the Indonesian people," he said.

Erick said that the government has confirmed that the mutual aid vaccination for COVID-19 will be available in March 2021. The temporary amount provided for the private sector is 3.5 million doses.

Not only that, said Erick, the government also ensures that the mutual cooperation vaccine will be provided free of charge. Regulation of vaccine distribution is being discussed by the government.

Meanwhile, the businessman ensures that they will guarantee the costs of the mutual aid vaccine or independent vaccine. This means that the cost of vaccination will not be borne by employees but will be borne by employers.

Deputy Chairperson of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), Shinta Widjaja Kamdani, explained that the price of mutual aid vaccines will be set by the government. However, not for commercialization.

Meanwhile, said Shinta, the procurement of vaccines will be carried out by PT Bio Farma (Persero) as the holding for a pharmaceutical BUMN. Later, entrepreneurs will buy the vaccine.

"The goal is for the company to finance its employees to be vaccinated, so there is no element of commercialization," said Shinta.

Shinta said that employers have the role of buying vaccines and then injecting them into workers or employees. The companies participating in this program are voluntary and not required.

"So the company pays for its employees to get vaccines for free. This is optional. You don't have to join this program," he said.