Questioning The Stock Of 12 Million Vaccines Unused, NasDem Legislators: Where Are They, Why Didn't They Come To The Regions?

Illustration (Photo: Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of Indonesian House of Representatives Commission VI, Martin Manurung, questioned the stock of COVID-19 vaccine which he claimed was still the remaining 12 million doses and had not been used.

The reason is, the existence of the vaccine stock is inversely proportional to the facts that occur in the field. Where the area actually runs out and lacks vaccines.

"From the regencies that I have checked through the Nasdem faction in Samosir, Toba, and Nias, they actually asked for vaccine stocks to be sent from the center. Why is this so contradictory?", said Martin, Monday, August 2.

The Nasdem politician then asked the government to be open and transparent about the stock of the COVID-19 vaccine.

"So, where exactly is the item? In which area, and how many? Don't just mention the area, because Indonesia has hundreds of regions", Martin asked.

The North Sumatran legislator then alluded to the rules in the circular letter of the Task Force for Handling COVID-19 16/2021 regarding the Travel Provisions for Domestic People during the pandemic. In the letter, it requires a vaccine card for at least the first dose.

"If there is a minimum requirement for the first dose, but the vaccine itself is not available in the area, how can the community be vaccinated?", asked Martin.

According to him, the existence of vaccine stocks is very important so that the mass vaccination program can run optimally as ordered by President Joko Widodo.

"Don't let the central government want to promote the acceleration of vaccination, but when people want to be vaccinated, the vaccine doesn't reach the regions", concluded Martin.

Previously, Special Staff to the Minister of SOEs, Erick Thohir, Arya Sinulingga said there were 12 million vaccines that had not been used in various regions in Indonesia out of 77 million vaccines that had been distributed. So until now, there are 65 million vaccines that have been used.

"This is 12 million unused vaccines, not yet injected. Because we send them every day, there are 100 thousand, 50 thousand to various provinces. From province to district/city and so on. So there is a process", said Arya, Thursday, July 29.