COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign Begins in Indonesia

The Indonesian government has officially launched its COVID-19 vaccination campaign, with healthcare workers being the first group to receive the vaccine. The campaign aims to vaccinate around 181.5 million people, or about 70% of the country’s population, within the next 15 months.

President Joko Widodo received the first dose of the vaccine on live television to assure the public of its safety and efficacy. The government plans to prioritize healthcare workers, public officials, and the elderly in the initial stages of the campaign.

Indonesia has secured millions of vaccine doses from several different manufacturers, including Sinovac and AstraZeneca. The country has been hit hard by the pandemic, with over 800,000 confirmed cases and more than 23,000 deaths reported so far.