Durian. Indonesian President Joko Widodo was first in line as he had promised injected on Jan.13 with covid-19 vaccine, made by China’s pharmaceutical firm Sinovac, marking the beginning of national vaccination program.
‘’Thank to God, I just received injection of Sinovac’s vaccine. This vaccine was injected after BPOM has issued emergency use authorization,’’ President Widodo said after getting the vaccine in Jakarta on Jan.13, referring to the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency.
BPOM issued emergency use authorization for covid-19 vaccines from Sinovac on Jan.12 based on the result of clinical tests of the vaccine in Indonesia, Brazil and Turkey, according to Penny Lukito, head of the agency in Jakarta.
The vaccine also suits to the World Health Organization’s standard about its effectivity which should be at least reaching 50 percent based on clinical tests in order to receive emergency use authorization, while it was 65.5 percent in Indonesia.
Moreover, Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) also has issued an edict declaring covid-19 vaccine from Sinovac is halal or lawful according to Islamic teachings.
Indonesia has 3 million doses of Sinovac vaccines and has received 15 million bulk vaccines from the same company to be produced further by state-owned pharmaceutical firm Bio Farma on Jan.12.
The national vaccination program will be conducted the whole 2021, targeting 181 million people.
Indonesia is expecting to get more vaccines from other sources such as from AstraZeneca. The country needs at least 352 million doses of vaccines for the national vaccination program.
President Widodo is scheduled to receive the second dose of vaccine on Jan.27. Each person should get two doses of vaccine.
Those who are in the front line for fight against covid-19 virus such as medics will get the vaccine first.
