VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia is scheduled to receive 45 million doses of three COVID-19 vaccines in stages in August 2021, the Health Ministry's spokesperson for COVID-19 vaccination, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, stated.

"The 45 million doses of vaccine comprise 35 million doses of Sinovac vaccine, six million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, and three to five million doses of the Pfizer vaccine," Tarmizi noted here on Monday morning.

The spokesperson informed that 50 percent of the total 45 million vaccines would be distributed to seven regions in Java and Bali island.

Tarmizi remarked that once the number of COVID-19 cases in Java and Bali were brought under control, the government would distribute the vaccine supplies evenly to 34 provinces in the country.

"Some 50 percent of the 45 million vaccines will be distributed to Java and Bali since the number of COVID-19 cases in the two islands is still relatively high. The rest will be distributed to 27 provinces outside Java and Bali," she revealed.

The spokesperson also informed of the required 28-day time gap between the first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. However, people can postpone taking the second dose if they are ill, she noted.

"People can take the second dose of injection later after having recovered," she remarked.

Nadia stated that as of July 27, Indonesia had secured 173.1 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, comprising 144.7 million doses in bulk form from Sinovac and 28.6 million doses in the form of finished products from AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, and Moderna.

In a bid to stem the spread of COVID-19 and build herd immunity, the Indonesian government began a nationwide vaccination program on January 13, 2021, with President Joko Widodo being the first recipient of the vaccine.  (Antaranews)