Vaccine Supply

ILLUSTRATION.

Source: Daily KONTAN | Editor: Ignatia Maria Sri Sayekti

KONTAN.CO.ID – The government has repeatedly emphasized that the Covid-19 vaccination program will become game changer determinants of the smooth progress of the national economic recovery process. With the commitment to supply up to 396 million doses of vaccine already in hand, the government should be optimistic. On paper, that dose is enough to build community immunity after the 181.5 million people targeted all received the vaccine.

However, now, the government’s optimism has met a tough test. The root of the problem is the start to choke in the supply of vaccines from some global producers. First, the supply of 54 million doses of vaccine under the COVAX-GAVI multilateral scheme may be delayed until May 2021 due to an embargo from one of its largest producers: India. The initial schedule, the vaccine should have arrived in Indonesia late April 2021.

The second problem is the gradual delivery of 50 million vaccines from the collaboration between AstraZeneca and Biofarma, which was previously promised to be completed by the end of 2021, is also in danger of being delayed. The British pharmaceutical company was only able to deliver 20 million doses of the vaccine and the rest was postponed until the first and second quarters of 2022.

The government is still undergoing a series of negotiations to ensure the supply of the vaccine. A backup measure by requesting an additional supply of about 100 million doses of the vaccine from Sinovac was also prepared. However, all these emergency steps will definitely take time.

Seeing this latest condition, we, both households and business people, deserve to be vigilant in anticipating an economic recovery that is slower than previously estimated. The usual steps are to save expenses or efficiency and to increase emergency funds. Apart from that, investors also need to be wiser in maintaining their expectations and investment allocations.

Of course, we also shouldn’t remain silent. As epidemiologists say, vaccines are not the only weapon against Covid-19. Adhering to health protocols such as 3M (maintaining distance, washing hands, wearing masks) can also prevent the spread of the Covid virus. Sounds classic and trivial, but proven effective!

Preventing the spread of Covid means helping ourselves and those we love. In addition, in the end, adhering to health protocols will also sustain the country’s economic recovery and the condition of our own households.

Author: Cipta Wahyana

Managing Editor

<!–