JAKARTA:Indonesia is finalising deals to secure 50 million doses of coronavirus vaccines from drugmakers Pfizer and AstraZeneca, the new health minister said on Tuesday.
Budi Gunadi Sadikin said the deal with AstraZeneca would be finalised before the end of the year, while an agreement with Pfizer would be signed in the first week of January.
Speaking at his first official news conference, the minister said 1.3 million front-line health workers, 500 of whom have died of COVID-19, would get priority in the vaccination drive.
"They are the most important group of people in our battle against the pandemic," he said.
The world's fourth most populous country has struggled to contain the coronavirus. It has had nearly 720,000 confirmed cases and 21,500 deaths, among the highest tallies in Asia.
Medical workers will be included in the first wave of vaccinations between January and April, along with public servants. The second wave will cover those in infection "red-zone" areas.
While other countries have vaccinated the elderly first, Indonesia has said that after healthcare workers and public servants, those aged between 18 and 59 would be next in line in an effort to safeguard the working population.
Bambang Heriyanto, corporate secretary of state-owned drugmaker Bio Farma, said the strategy would allow Indonesia to reach herd immunity.
"If herd immunity is reached, anyone below 18 and above 59 can hopefully be protected, too," he said.
In total, Indonesia has secured 329 million vaccine doses, including about 125 million from China's Sinovac, 50 million from Novavax and 54 million from the global vaccine programme COVAX.
AstraZeneca's vaccines are expected to arrive in the second quarter of 2021 and Pfizer's in the third quarter.
The two companies were not immediately available for comment.
Reuters
Tue Dec 29 2020
A healthcare worker holds a bottle of the Pfizer/BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine at Notre Dame home care, as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak continues in Brussels, Belgium December 28, 2020. REUTERS Pic
Shooting in Washington state leaves 5 dead; 15-year-old boy is in custody
The boy taken into custody was booked at the King County juvenile detention facility.
Malaysia to launch ASEAN Chairmanship 2025 logo and theme
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan will launch the logo and theme during a ceremony at the Wisma Putra, in Putrajaya.
Ukraine blasts UN's Guterres over invitation to BRICS summit in Russia
The UN Secretary General declined Ukraine's invitation to the first Global Peace Summit in Switzerland, the ministry said.
Hospitals under fire as Israeli forces deepen operations in northern Gaza
Troops rounded up men and ordered women to leave the Jabalia historic refugee camp, residents and medics said.
Taiwan says live fire China drills may be part of a 'deterrence' effect
Taiwan's defence ministry said those exercises were part of routine Chinese training and it was keeping a close watch.
Bursa Malaysia's early gains erode as investors lock in profits
The benchmark index had initially opened 1.78 points firmer at 1,647.46.
Brazil's Lula says head injury 'serious,' with update from doctors in coming days
The president's injury forced him to cancel a trip to Russia for a summit of the BRICS group of major emerging markets being held in Kazan.
Blinken heads to Israel to revive Gaza ceasefire talks after Sinwar death
Blinken will focus discussions on how to end the war, plans for the enclave after the fighting ends and how to improve humanitarian assistance.
Facebook owner Meta restarts facial recognition tech in 'celeb-bait' crackdown
Meta said it will enroll about 50,000 public figures in a trial which involves automatically comparing their Facebook profile photos with images used in suspected scam advertisements.
BHP trying to avoid responsibility over Brazilian dam collapse, UK court told
More than 600,000 Brazilians, 46 local governments and around 2,000 businesses are suing BHP over the 2015 collapse of the Mariana dam in southeastern Brazil.
Minimum wage not benchmark for all employees' starting salaries - Sim
Steven Sim says the increase in the minimum wage is intended as a basic wage for workers with lower academic qualifications and skills.
Climate and China weigh on how the US views Pacific relations
Pacific leaders keep their preference for US President quiet, yet viewing relations only through the lens of China does nobody a service.
Gulen, the powerful cleric accused of orchestrating a Turkish coup, dies
Gulen was a one-time ally of Erdogan but they fell out spectacularly, and Erdogan held him responsible for the 2016 attempted coup.
[COLUMNIST] The reality of earthquakes in Malaysia: A threat we can’t ignore
The government needs to prepare the public to deal with such disasters in any way possible.
'PROTEGE-Veteran' provides job assurance for retirees
This is an aggressive step by the government to protect the welfare of retirees, said Dr Mohd Hasril Amiruddin.
US says THAAD anti-missile system is 'in place' in Israel
THAAD is a critical part of the US military's layered air defense systems and adds to Israel's already formidable anti-missile defenses.
IMAN Research calls for strengthening human security in 2025 Budget
IMAN Research identifies key areas for enhancement within the Malaysian government's Third MADANI Budget 2025.
Zambry assures academics of freedom of speech
Zambry says he is committed to preventing any actions that could infringe upon the rights and freedoms of academics across universities.
Media licensing framework development involves multiple consultations - Teo
Teo Nie Ching says the views of stakeholders have been considered through several engagement sessions and ongoing consultations.
ANALYSIS - World lags on 2030 nature goals headed into UN COP16 talks
A top concern for countries and companies is how to pay for conservation, with the COP16 talks aiming to develop new initiatives.