VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The government plans to vaccinate 9.1 million people with a high-risk category of contracting the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus by the end of November 2020.

Director-General of Disease Prevention and Control of the Ministry of Health, Achmad Yurianto, when delivering a press statement in Jakarta, Monday, explained that the first group to be vaccinated were health workers at a referral hospital for handling COVID-19 patients and laboratory personnel involved in examinations to detect COVID-19 transmission.

The second group that will receive vaccinations, he continued, are public service officers at public facilities such as airports, stations, and the Center for Public Health and the Indonesian Army-Police apparatus and the Civil Service Police Unit who enforce health protocols.

The government plans to carry out the COVID-19 vaccination by the end of November 2020, after the vaccine is available and the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) and the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) complete safety and halal checks of vaccines.

Achmad Yurianto explained that the government had secured a commitment to supply vaccines from the vaccine manufacturers Sinovac, Sinofarm, and Cansino from China.

"Sinovac itself is committed to giving Indonesia the opportunity to buy vaccines in the form of two shipments. The initial plan was in November of 1.5 million (doses) of vaccines, and December 1.5 million (doses) of vaccines," he said.

The vaccine from Sinovac should be given two doses to one person with an interval of 14 days. Thus, three million Sinovac vaccines will be used for 1.5 million Indonesians.

In addition, the government has received a commitment to send 15 million doses of finished vaccine from Sinofarm which can be used to immunize 7.5 million people, and 100 thousand doses of vaccine from Cansino which can be used to vaccinate 100,000 people.

The government has secured a commitment to provide a COVID-19 vaccine to vaccinate 9.1 million people.

Achmad Yurianto emphasized that the realization of the vaccination plan at the end of November 2020 depends on issuing emergency use authorization certification from BPOM and halal certification from MUI.

Representatives from the two institutions are still in China to get data on vaccines and to see the process of providing raw materials and making vaccines to ensure their safety and halalness.

The government will cover the cost of the first phase of vaccination for 9.1 million people.

In addition to preparing the first phase of vaccination for groups with a high risk of contracting COVID-19, the government is preparing services for residents who want to undergo vaccinations at their own expense.

"We have prepared space for people who are able to vaccinate independently," said Achmad Yurianto. (Antaranews)