JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) – Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Wednesday received the first shot of a COVID-19 vaccine made in China after Indonesia approved it for emergency use and began efforts to vaccinate millions of people. people in the fourth most populous country in the world.
After Widodo, senior military, police and medical officials were vaccinated, as was the secretary of the Ulema Council of Indonesia, the clerical body that ruled the vaccine last week was halal and could be taken by Muslims. Others, such as a health worker, employers and a social media influencer, also received shots to encourage people to get the vaccine when it became available.
“We need to do the vaccination to stop the spread of the COVID-19 chain and give us protection for health and safety for all Indonesians. It will also help accelerate economic improvement, ”Widodo said.
“This vaccine is the tool we can use to protect ourselves. But most importantly, the vaccine is the instrument to protect our family, our neighbor, the Indonesian people and human civilization, “Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said on Wednesday.
“This vaccine is given to get the herd immunity. 70% of the world’s people need to be vaccinated to get it. The participation of all Indonesians will largely determine the success of this program, ”he said.
Conditional use of the Sinovac Biotech Ltd. vaccine is planned. over the next few months, with priority for health workers, civil servants and other at-risk populations. It will be free for all Indonesian citizens.
For Indonesia to vaccinate two-thirds of its population, 181.5 million people, Sadikin said the two-shot vaccine would require nearly 427 million doses, including the forecast that 15% could be wasted.
Distribution will not be easy in the vast archipelago where transport and infrastructure are limited by places. Health officials have cited concerns about keeping the vaccine refrigerated at the 36-46 degrees Fahrenheit required to maintain its safety and effectiveness.
“We know that the distribution of the cold chain is not complete. That’s the hurdle, “Sadikin said Tuesday.” Cold chain facilities are not enough, so we’re still distributing some of the vaccines. We’re worried. “
Indonesia received its first shipment of Sinovac vaccines on December 6 and began distributing doses across the country while awaiting authorization for emergency use. It was authorized for emergency use based on clinical trial data and after the Ulema Council of Indonesia declared the vaccine holy and halal.
Indonesia’s vaccination program is the first large-scale use of the Sinovac vaccine outside of China.
Indonesia has reported more than 846,000 cases of the virus, including more than 24,600 deaths.
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.