VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian state-owned pharmaceutical company PT Bio Farma President Director Honesty Basyir said Indonesia is joining 10 countries leading in Covid-19 vaccination. Honesti Basyir said that in the Working Meeting with the House's Commission VI in Jakarta on Monday.

Honesti Basyir said, until March 27 2021, some 10.4 million doses had been injected to the people. Based on the explanation, Indonesia ranked 9th under the US, China, India, Brazil, Turkey, Germany, and Russia. Behind Indonesia, there are France, Israel, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates. Honesti Basyir said Indonesia's position is even better than some European countries.

He added that Indonesia must maintain this position and keep increasing the vaccination speed because all is racing against the mutation development from the virus. Honesti said that Covid-19 vaccination speed achievement in Indonesia is supported by vaccine supply availability.

Besides making commitment for a long time with some vaccine developers, Indonesia also becomes a country that performs Covid-19 vaccine clinical tests. Honesti Basyir said the speed will decide whether Indonesia can achieve herd immunity less than 15 months or even faster.

According to Honesti Basyir, Indonesia's achievement on vaccination so far was coming from the government’s commitment in procuring Covid-19 vaccine supply. Honesti said, many contributed to this including the Health Ministry, Food and Drugs Monitoring Agency (BPOM), Foreign Ministry, and State-Owned Enterprises Ministry.

Honesti further explained that in 2021, Indonesia had secured most of the vaccination needs as many as 426 million doses. Indonesian government through Bio Farma had made a contract for procuring 329.5 million doses of finished and half-finished vaccine with some vaccine developers. Honesti is optimistic that the vaccine need can be fulfilled. Most of it will be done in 2021. It is expected to finish in the first quarter 2022.