JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The first shipment of Covid-19 vaccine from Chinese drug maker Sinovac has arrived in Indonesia on Sunday, December 6.
In a broadcast message via the Presidential Secretariat’s official YouTube Channel, President Joko Widodo announced that the government has received 1.2 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine from China-based biopharmaceutical Company Sinovac Biotech Ltd.
“I have good news to share. Today [Sunday] the government has received 1.2 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine,” said Jokowi, as the President is popularly known.
Also read: Covid-19 Vaccine from China Will Cost Around $13, Says Indonesia’s Bio Farma
“This vaccine is produced by Sinovac and we have been testing it clinically since August 2020 in Bandung,” Jokowi said, referring to the state-owned pharmaceutical firm Bio Farma head office.
The President said there will be another shipment of 1.8 million doses of vaccine arriving in January 2021.
Besides, 45 million doses will be supplied in the form of raw materials and are expected to arrive in two batches comprising 15 million doses and 30 million doses, respectively.
“The raw materials will be further processed by Bio Farma,” he said, adding that the availability of vaccines can help prevent the spread of the Covid-19.
Also read: China’s Sinovac Team Monitors Covid-19 Clinical Trials in Indonesia
He urged the people to continue to observe health protocols.