Indonesia to Receive Vaccine Supplies from Three Chinese Pharmaceutical Companies
Chinese Sinovac Vaccine Production to Also Take Place in Indonesia
[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Indonesia will begin administering Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines starting next month. Indonesia plans to prioritize essential personnel such as medical staff for vaccination, even if clinical trials have not yet been completed.
According to The Straits Times in Singapore on the 13th, the Indonesian government has agreed to receive 100,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine from China's CanSino Biologics next month. Additionally, Chinese state-owned pharmaceutical company Sinovac has agreed to supply 3 million doses by the end of the year. Furthermore, Sinopharm will also supply 5 million doses starting next month.
All of these vaccines are still undergoing clinical trials but have received emergency use authorization from the Chinese government.
Terawan Agus Putranto, Indonesia's Minister of Health, explained, "Medical personnel, healthcare workers, civil servants, military, police, and teachers will be prioritized to receive the vaccine."
An Indonesian government official stated that COVID-19 vaccines will be provided on a paid basis for those who wish to receive them, but low-income individuals will be able to get vaccinated at a reduced cost.
The Indonesian government has been negotiating to secure COVID-19 vaccine supplies from China. To this end, President Joko Widodo requested Chinese President Xi Jinping via phone call to supply vaccines at the lowest possible price. Subsequently, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir visited China to finalize vaccine supply contracts.
Separately from receiving vaccines from China, Indonesia has also decided to engage in vaccine production. Indonesia's state-owned pharmaceutical company Bio Farma will manufacture vaccines in collaboration with Sinovac. Bio Farma has previously produced vaccines related to polio and influenza.
Bio Farma plans to increase its vaccine manufacturing capacity to 250 million doses annually if China's clinical trials succeed.
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