Roundup: Indonesian companies participate in special COVID-19 vaccination scheme for faster herd immunity

JAKARTA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Tens of thousands of companies in Indonesia have registered to participate in a COVID-19 vaccination program locally known as "Gotong Royong" to help the country achieve herd immunity faster. In this scheme, companies or legal entities can arrange the COVID-19 vaccine rollout for their employees for free. Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Rosan Perkasa Roeslani said that 11,542 companies have registered for a total of 7,403,356 employees in the Gotong Royong Vaccination program. "The registration not only involves big companies but also medium-sized, and even small business players. I was surprised," said Roeslani, recently. The first phase of the registration for the Gotong Royong Vaccination program took place from Jan. 28 to Feb. 28, and the second phase is scheduled for March 10 and will last through March 24. Through this measure, the employees involved will be able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at an early date. It is the companies' responsibility to make employees feel safe and comfortable at work, thereby increasing productivity, Roeslani said. Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said vaccine procurement for the scheme is carried out by the Ministry of State Owned Enterprises in collaboration with the state-owned vaccine manufacturer PT Bio Farma. Health ministry spokesperson for COVID-19 vaccination Siti Nadia Tarmizi said the Gotong Royong Vaccination program will not use Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Novavax, and Pfizer vaccines in order not to overlap with the government's vaccination program. The vaccine administration will be carried out in eligible private clinics. "It is not in the same health service facilities where the government vaccination program is held," Tarmizi said. According to Bio Farma's Chief Executive Officer Honesti Basyir, the company has signed agreements to buy the Sinopharm and Moderna vaccines for use in the Gotong Royong Vaccination program. *http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-03/21/c_139825676.htm