VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Feb. 16 - The government will commence the second phase of COVID-19 vaccination in the third week of February 2021, targeting public service officers and senior citizens.

Acting Director General of Disease Control and Prevention of the Health Ministry Maxi Rein Rondonuwu stated here during an online discussion, Monday, that the second phase of vaccination has targeted more than 38.5 million people, of which 21 million are senior citizens.

"The second phase of vaccination will be started with traders in the Tanah Abang Market on Wednesday (Feb 17)," he revealed.

Vaccination, targeting 55 thousand market traders, will run for six days.

Rondonuwu noted that the second phase of vaccination has targeted people with high direct interaction, mobility, and vulnerability to COVID-19 infection.

"If we can protect them from COVID-19, then we can lower the transmission rate and reduce the work load in hospitals," he remarked.

Initially, the vaccination program, in its second phase, will only prioritize public service officers.

However, the government has placed the elderly group in the target group for vaccination on grounds that they are at high risk of COVID-19 infection, with high mortality risk.

The public service officers comprise military and police personnel, teachers, civil servants, public transportation workers, motorcycle-taxi drivers, and traders.

The second phase of vaccination is expected to be completed in May 2021.

"In May 2021, we will start the vaccination for other groups of the society," he stated.

Vaccination is part of the government's efforts to curb COVID-19 transmission.

In addition to vaccination, various steps have been undertaken to prevent further spread of the virus, including massive campaigning of health protocols; applying travel restrictions; and improving the tracing, testing, and treatment of COVID-19 cases. (Antaranews)

Feb. 16 - Indonesia’s trade balance posted a surplus of US$1.96 billion in January 2021, with exports valued at US$15.30 billion and import activities reaching US$13.34 billion, the Central Statistics Agency stated.

"This position is much better as compared to the trade balance recorded in January 2020 when a trade deficit of US$640 million was recorded or as compared to January 2019 when a deficit of US$980 million was posted," the agency’s head, Suhariyanto, stated during a virtual press conference held from Jakarta, Monday.

Hence, Suhariyanto concluded that the trade performance in January 2021 showed positive progress since the number of export activities went up 12.24 percent as compared to the corresponding period in the previous year.

At the start of this year, exports in the agriculture sector increased by 13.91 percent and exports in the industry sector rose by 11.72 percent, whilst mining exports went up 16.92 percent.

"This is much better as compared to last year, and it brings about hope for exports to keep growing in the coming months and that economic recovery can continue in accordance with expectations," he pointed out.  

However, the agency chief called on taking into account the decline in import value in January 2021 of 6.49 percent as compared to January 2019 for consumer, auxiliary, and capital goods.

"This indicates that the movement of import activities has not met the expectations," Suhariyanto affirmed.

In terms of the commodities, the largest contributors to the January 2021 export surplus in the non-oil and gas sector comprised vegetable fats and oils, mineral fuels, and footwear.

Meanwhile, based on partner countries, Indonesia logged a trade surplus with several countries, including US$1.095 billion with the United States; US$563.2 million with India; and US$504.3 million with the Philippines.

Indonesia continued to record a trade deficit with several countries during the same period, including a US$1.09-billion deficit with China, US$243.6 million with Australia; and US$192.3 million with South Korea. (Antaranews)

Feb. 15 - Indonesian tycoon Hary Tanoesoedibjo, a business partner of former U.S. president Donald Trump, launched on Monday construction on a movie studio as part of a tourism complex on Java island that is set to receive tax breaks.

Feb. 15 - South Korea said on Monday it will not use AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine on people aged 65 and older, reversing an earlier decision, and scaled back initial vaccination targets due to delayed shipments from global vaccine-sharing scheme COVAX.

South Korea had said it would complete vaccinations on 1.3 million people by the first quarter of this year with AstraZeneca shots, but it slashed the target sharply to 750,000.

The decision is largely due to adjustments in the supply timetable of the 2.6 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from COVAX, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said on Monday.

It did not mention any production issues in Europe for the delayed schedule, which it put down to administrative processes at COVAX, and reiterated that its plan to reach herd immunity by November remained in tact.

“We do not believe the adjustments in inoculations in February and March will impact our goal of herd immunity by November,” KDCA director Jeong Eun-kyeong told a briefing.

South Korea also reversed its earlier plan on the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine and said it would delay inoculation of the elderly using the shot until more efficacy data becomes available.

South Korean authorities said last week they would grant their first approval for a coronavirus vaccine to AstraZeneca, and would allow its use on the elderly, despite warnings from advisory panels about a lack of data on its efficacy in older patients.

Several European countries have warned that AstraZeneca/Oxford University’s shot should only be given to those ages 18 to 64, but the company has said it triggers a good immune response in older people.

South Korea’s first vaccinations will begin on Feb. 26, with healthcare workers and vulnerable residents, including the elderly, the first in line. (Reuters)