The Indonesian government received eight million vaccine doses from Sinovac at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, Banten Province on Thursday.
“We welcome the arrival of eight million doses of vaccines from Sinovac. This is a part of the commitment of the government and the Indonesian nation to build protection from COVID-19 danger,” Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said during an online press conference here on Thursday.
The arrival of the 29th batch of vaccines from Sinovac has added to the supply of 143,907,880 vaccines that the government has obtained as of July 19, 2021, he informed.
Qoumas said he is optimistic that the availability of vaccines will help expedite and expand the vaccination program for building herd immunity quickly.
Steady vaccine supply will help meet the target of inoculating two million people per day by August this year, he said.
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“The government has set the target of inoculating two million people in a day by August. Of course, this effort requires sufficient vaccine supply and its (Sinovac batch's) arrival will accelerate the vaccination program on a national scale,” he added.
To make the vaccination program successful, all elements of the public should educate one another of the importance of vaccinations, the minister said.
He also urged all religious figures, administrators of Islamic boarding schools (pesantren), and others to help disseminate information pertaining to vaccinations among the wider community so that the pandemic can end soon.
“The vaccination program is an elaboration of religious teachings. Every religious person is obliged to maintain life as the greatest gift from God. Caring for life is the most noble action by which we can glorify God longer throughout our lives on earth. So this vaccination program is in line with the religious spirit to maintain the sustainability of life," he expounded.
He also urged people who have been vaccinated to remain disciplined in observing the health protocols in their daily lives to help curb virus transmission.
“Because all of this (effort) aims at maintaining mutual safety from the dangers of COVID-19, make sure we all care and remind one another to adhere to health protocols,” he remarked.
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Editor : Mahdani
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