The Number Of COVID-19 Vaccines Is Limited And Becomes Scarce, Minister Of Health Budi Asks Citizens To Be More Patient

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has asked people who want to get vaccines to be patient because the process is carried out in stages. In addition, the limited number of vaccines has become an international struggle.

"This vaccine is a worldwide struggle. Many countries have not been able to get the vaccines. Of the total 7.8 billion human population on earth, 70 percent or about 5.5 billion people need 11 billion vaccines to get herd immunity, so the vaccination process is gradual and it will take time", said Budi Sadikin while reviewing vaccinations at the Indonesian Religious Leader (MUI) office in Jakarta, reported by Antara, Wednesday, March 3.

According to him, the struggle for the COVID-19 vaccine is not easy because many countries need to quickly get out of the crisis

Indonesia, he said, is lucky because it has received a vaccine and the vaccination process is still ongoing. Meanwhile, several other Asian countries just started vaccination a few days ago.

"Several developed countries have just started vaccination, so Indonesia is grateful that we can get it, because (vaccines) are still being scrambled around the world", he said.

He said that the government will continue to rush vaccinations so that Herd Immunity can be achieved and it is hoped that by June this year it can reach 20 percent.

To achieve herd immunity there must be 70 percent of people aged 18 years old and over who are vaccinated. He targets that as many as 181 million Indonesians can get vaccines.

"Indeed, this is the vaccination in stages, so please be patient, until June maybe 20 percent of the population can be vaccinated, we are trying to get as many vaccines as possible, the rest in July, God willing, some people can be vaccinated", he said.

Meanwhile, responding to vaccinations at MUI, the Minister of Health hopes that the efforts made by the MUI leadership can convince the public to participate in the vaccination program so that Indonesia can quickly get out of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

"Thank you, friends, hopefully, we can build a vaccination movement for Indonesia, and please be supportive so that all friends, all people feel comfortable and safe", said Budi.