8 Million Sinovac Vaccines Coming Again, Erick Thohir: We Hope Economically Indonesia Can Grow Again

SOE Minister Erick Thohir (Photo: Screenshot of the Youtube Screen of the Indonesian Presidential Secretariat/Diah Ayu)

JAKARTA - Indonesia is back with the arrival of a vaccine today. A total of 8 million doses of Sinovac vaccine arrived at Soekarno Hatta International Airport. These vaccines arrive in bulk or raw materials.

With the arrival of the 14th stage of vaccine delivery, the total vaccine that Indonesia has received is 92,910,500 doses. A total of 81.5 million of them came in bulk.

"The government, with the help of all the people, we have received 26.9 million vaccinations now. We will continue to level this up," said SOE Minister Erick Thohir at Soekarno Hattaz Airport aired on Youtube by the Presidential Secretariat, Monday, May 31.

Erick claimed that the response of the Indonesian government in obtaining vaccine rations from a number of producers was the fastest from other countries in Southeast Asia. However, the government's efforts have not stopped there.

"Are we complacent? No. Because if we look at our comparison with vaccinations compared to other big countries such as China, America, we are still below. This is what we must continue to improve," said Erick.

Furthermore, Erick made an analogy that vaccines are a game changer that can bring Indonesia out of handling the pandemic.

But, said Erick, vaccination without being supported by health protocols by the public is an effort to handle the COVID-19 pandemic that cannot be sustainable.

"So I hope, of course, with the government's hard work, we have the right that the Indonesian people can work together. We also hope that with the acceleration of this vaccination, we hope that Indonesia's economy can grow again," explained Erick.

With the increase in the vaccination program, Erick hopes that economic growth will improve again to 4 to 5 percent by the end of this year.

Furthermore, Erick said the government continues to develop the production of the Merah Putih vaccine, which is now collaborating with 5 universities and two research institutes.

"It's not enough there, we are also open to cooperating with other parties. Because we want to be able to produce our own vaccines, not only imported vaccines," explained Erick.

"God willing, we can see this hard work at the end of the year and early next year, whether we can progress with the Red and White vaccine or cooperate with other parties," he added.