Indonesia Continues Calls for Vaccine Equity
Jakarta. Indonesia once again calls for equitable Covid-19 vaccine access for every country in the world.
"The Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Indonesian diplomacy will continue to work, work, and work, to secure Indonesia's vaccine supply from all channels through every available mechanism. The Indonesian diplomacy will keep working, among others, to voice out that vaccine equity for all countries can be achieved," Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said in a statement on Thursday.
The government's diplomacy and efforts bore fruits. On Friday, 450,000 Astrazeneca doses landed in Indonesia. The delivery was part of the bilateral, dose-sharing mechanism with the Netherlands. The Dutch government has agreed to send 3 million vaccine doses to aid Indonesia's Covid-19 fight.
"On behalf of the Indonesian government, I would like to thank the Dutch government for the vaccine assistance [under this] dose-sharing [mechanism]. I hope for an even stronger partnership in the future," Retno said.
More vaccine doses also arrived in Indonesia earlier this week. On Thursday, Indonesia received about 1,560,780 Pfizer doses. Also in the same week, Indonesia welcomed a fresh shipment of 567,500 Astrazeneca doses, as well as 5 million Sinovac doses.
Retno said the government would ramp up its efforts to secure the vaccine supply for the people.
"Once again, let us support the Covid-19 vaccination program so we can get out of this pandemic. Thank you, stay healthy, and please observe the health protocols," the diplomat added.
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin thanked the Dutch government for their assistance, as the vaccine shipment would help boost Indonesia's vaccination drive.
"This sets an example that, in order to be able to end the pandemic, all nations must have access to vaccination," Budi said.
According to the Dutch Ambassador to Indonesia Lambert Grijns, through this vaccine assistance, the Netherlands hoped to show its solidarity with Indonesia and strengthen its bilateral ties.
"And just like Indonesia, the Netherlands is also calling for equitable access for everyone in the world," he said.
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