JAKARTA - The government will receive 1.8 million doses of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine made by Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech Ltd in early January 2021 following the 1.2 million doses already ordered. This was announced by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in a video uploaded on the Cabinet Secretariat's YouTube channel on Sunday (6/12).
"I would like to deliver good news that today the government has received 1.2 million doses of Sinovac vaccine, which will be clinically tested in Bandung," he said.
According to Mr Widodo, in December 15 million doses of vaccine in the form of bulk raw materials are also due to arrive, in addition to ready-to-use doses. In January 2021, he added, there will be additional 30 million bulk doses which will be processed by PT Bio Farma (Persero).
"We can prevent the spread of COVID-19, but in order to start vaccination we still need approval from the Drug and Food Regulatory Agency (BPOM)," Mr Widodo said.
Mr Widodo said that in order to guarantee the health and safety of Indonesians the vaccination procedure must be performed adequately by taking into account scientific consideration and clinical test results. (LK/MS)