VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

A screenshot of Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi delivers a virtual press statement regarding the Johnson & Johnson vaccines' arrival on Saturday (September 11, 2021). ANTARA/Yashinta Difa - 

Indonesia received its first 500 thousand COVID-19 vaccine doses of Johnson & Johnson from the Dutch government that arrived at the Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Banten, on Saturday.

"This is the third batch of vaccine supply support from the Dutch," Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi stated while delivering a virtual press statement on the arrival of the vaccines.

Indonesia had earlier obtained 657 thousand doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine as part of the commitment to provide a total of three million vaccine doses from the Netherlands.

The Indonesian government plans to administer Johnson & Johnson vaccines to citizens aged 18 years and above.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine, with efficacy of 67.2 percent, has obtained an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) permit from the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) on September 7, 2021.

Dutch Ambassador to Indonesia, Lambert Grijns, noted that only one injection of the Jenssen company was required, so it will be effective in reaching people in remote areas.

"Recipients of the vaccine only need to make one trip," Grijns remarked.

The ambassador noted that the Dutch government was delighted to support Indonesia in its efforts to administer the donated vaccines to as many citizens as possible and at the earliest.

In addition to the vaccines, the Dutch government will donate personal protective equipment (PPE) to Indonesia.

Grijns remarked that a ship, carrying PPE, had departed from the port of Rotterdam last week and was scheduled to arrive in Jakarta in the coming weeks.

"I am optimistic that the donations we give would help the people of Indonesia. Indonesia has a special place in our hearts,” he affirmed//ANT