VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta. Indonesia's COVID-19 Handling Task Force has reported that a total of 5,533,379 people comprising health workers, public service workers and elderly residents, have so far been vaccinated against COVID-19.

The number of people receiving the first dose of vaccine jab on Sunday increased 408,431 people compared to that on Saturday.

Meanwhile, 2,301,978 of Indonesians have been administered the second shot, or up 80,778 people from the previous day, the task force said here on Sunday.

Hence, some 13.71 percent of the total 40,349,051 target people for phase I and stage II vaccination have received the first dose. Meanwhile, only 5.69 percent has been had the second shot.

Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) has stated that the use of the vaccine made by AstraZeneca, which was suspended, can now be resumed for the COVID-19 vaccination program.

The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has also cleared the South Korean SK Bioscience vaccine for use.

Earlier, on a different occasion, the MUI had appealed to Muslims to not hesitate to get the COVID-19 jab during fasting as receiving the vaccination would not be considered as breaking fast, based on a fatwa (edict).

The Indonesian Government has set a target to administer COVID1-9 vaccines to a total of 181.5 million people within a year, in order to develop a herd immunity.

The vaccination program has started since January 13, 2021, using vaccine produced by Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac. (Antaranews)