VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia received an additional 1.5 million doses of the Moderna vaccine from the United States government on Tuesday as part of the 148th vaccine consignment.

"Today, Indonesia once again received vaccine donation from the United States government through the COVAX facility," the Ministry of Health's vaccination spokesperson Siti Nadia Tarmizi informed in a written statement issued here on Tuesday.

The United States government has provided vaccine donations to Indonesia several times, she noted.

According to Tarmizi, the two countries are closely cooperating with one another, including in pandemic handling, and are working on improving their relations.

"For this arrival, the Indonesian government expresses its gratitude to the United States government," she remarked.

Securing vaccine stocks is crucial for Indonesia so that quick distribution can be carried out, she added.

Vaccine equity has become important for Indonesia to be better protected from the threat of COVID-19 that continues to persist to this day, she said.

Domestically, the vaccination effort continues to be expanded, Tarmizi informed.

"Currently, the government is trying to increase vaccinations in the outer and remote regions, reaching which presents its own challenges," she elaborated.

The increasing COVID-19 infections in a number of countries should prompt all parties to become more disciplined in protecting themselves by getting vaccinated and following the health protocols, she said.

"The people's obedience in implementing the health protocols and vaccinations has become the key to controlling the pandemic," she affirmed.

Earlier on Sunday, Indonesia had received 1.9 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines through a direct purchase agreement, director-general of information and public communication at the Communications and Informatics Ministry, Usman Kansong, said.

"With the arrival of the 147th stage amounting to 1,932 thousand doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, the total number of vaccine doses that Indonesia has received, both in finished and bulk form (raw materials), has reached 395,544,580," Kansong informed in a press release issued here on Monday. (Antaranews)