Indonesia May Get Covid-19 Vaccines through COVAX Scheme in Q2 2021: Minister

Jakarta: Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has said that Indonesia may be able to get covid-19 vaccines through the COVAX scheme in the second quarter of 2021.

"The multilateral vaccine may be available in the second quarter of 2021," said Indonesia's top diplomat during a virtual press briefing here on Wednesday.
The COVAX Facility is part of COVAX, the vaccines pillar of the Access to Covid-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, which is co-led by CEPI, Gavi and WHO – working in partnership with developed and developing country vaccine manufacturers, UNICEF, the World Bank, civil society organisations and others. 

COVAX is the only global initiative that is working with governments and manufacturers to ensure covid-19 vaccines are available worldwide to economies of all financial means.

On Wednesday morning, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, along with a number of figures from various background, receive the Sinovac covid-19 vaccine.

Early this week, the Sinovac covid-19 vaccine obtained the emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) and halal fatwa from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI).

For the record, the covid-19 vaccinations will be carried out for around 182 million Indonesians to obtain herd immunity and will be carried out in stages with the first priority being health workers as the frontline in handling the pandemic.

(WAH)