Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi, assured that the government is doing everything to secure COVID-19 vaccine. (Image via Republika)

Indonesian Government's diplomacy to secure COVID-19 vaccine

Indonesia's Foreign Affairs Ministry stated that they keep negotiating with other countries in order to provide vaccine for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), as a collective measure to contain the pandemic which hit the country since March 2020.

Speaking at a press conference held by COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery Committee (KPCPEN) on Tuesday, the Foreign Affairs Minister, Retno Marsudi, asserted that the effort to procure the COVID-19 vaccine for Indonesia is a joint effort by the ministries and institutions related, to recover from the pandemic. One of the key elements in the effort is by "vaccine diplomacy", both bilateral cooperation with countries and vaccine makers around the world and multilateral cooperation.

One of its implementations was when Retno landed a deal with some COVID-19 vaccine makers, including Sinovac, with the BUMN Minister, Erick Thohir, in August 2020. In October, the Ministry also signed a deal with AstraZeneca and multilateral deal through GAVI COVAX Facility.

Responding to the arrival of 1.2 million dosages of Sinovac's CoronaVac in Indonesia on Sunday night, Retno appreciated the good teamwork shown by the related parties, including intensive, hour-by-hour coordination with the Chinese Government. Retno assured that the "vaccine diplomacy" will stay on to secure the COVID-19 vaccine in Indonesia.

Currently, the Foreign Affairs, Health, and Finance Ministries are keeping in touch with Geneva, Switzerland, for multilateral COVID-19 vaccine procurement. Reportedly, Indonesia is among 92 COVAX AMC countries to receive 3% vaccine or 20% of the population of GAVI COVAX Facility. There are administrations and technical preparations required from the Health and Finance Ministries. One of which was sending the vaccine's request form to COVAX Facility on Monday.

Retno added that there are stages to be done until the end of 2020. One of which is preparing the next stage of COVID-19 vaccine with Sinovac, the arrival of 15 million dosages of raw material for the vaccine to be produced by the state-owned pharmaceutical, Bio Farma. Subsequently, Indonesia is anticipating the arrival of 1.8 million dosages of CoronaVac and 30 million dosages of raw material in January 2021. Retno also hopes that the multilateral vaccine will enter Indonesia gradually by 2021. 

The Foreign Affairs Minister also reminded the people of maintaining the health protocols against COVID-19 infection, such as wearing face masks, washing hands, and social-distancing.

Source: https://bit.ly/3go4xsU