Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
Staff of the Minister of SOEs Erick Thohir, Arya Sinulingga said, until now there are at least about 12 million doses Covid-19 vaccine which is wasted.
Arya said the tens of millions of unused vaccine doses were the remainder of the approximately 77 million vaccines that had been distributed to a number of provinces and regencies during the vaccination process.
“Of the 77 million, only 63 million have been used. So, there are actually almost 12 million… which he wasted,” said Arya in an interview with CNNIndonesia TV, Wednesday (28/7).
Arya did not explain in more detail the cause of the tens of millions of wasted vaccines. According to him, the vaccine was wasted because it was not used after the hood was opened from the storage area.
“Because, if the vaccine has been used, 10 opened, used five, five must be thrown away, can’t be used again,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Arya detailed, during the vaccination process, Indonesia had received at least 147 million doses of vaccine. That number consists of 123 million Sinovac vaccines and 24 million AstraZeneca vaccines.
Then, of these, 87 of them have been and will be ready to be shipped. Meanwhile, the remaining 24.5 million are still in the quarantine process awaiting approval from the Food and Drug Administration (BPOM).
Of the approximately 87 that are ready to ship, 77 million have already been delivered, and 9.3 million are in the process of being delivered. Of the approximately 77 million that have been distributed, the total vaccine used has only reached 63 million, while the remaining 12 million are wasted and unused.
“This means that 77 million have been sent. Only 63 million have been used,” he said.
Arya’s explanation also responded to reports of vaccine shortages from a number of regions, including East Java and Bogor Regency, West Java. Arya admitted that he did not know anything about reports of vaccine shortages from some of these areas.
He said it was within the authority of the Ministry of Health. He said that so far, his party had only sent vaccines according to the Ministry of Health’s request.
“So, our position does not determine where the goods are sent. Because the one who owns it is the Ministry of Health. So after being in the province, it is the responsibility of the province,” he said.
(thr/ayp)
– .
