According to the United Nations, over 15.5 million of the rejected vaccines were destroyed. Now, nine million more COVID vaccines in Indonesia are set to be destroyed after expiring as vaccination rates decline.
As Indonesia’s anti-COVID regulations are eased, 9 million doses of outdated COVID-19 vaccines will be discarded in storage facilities.
The immunizations were due to expire last month, according to the Indonesian Ministry of Health.
In a Tuesday conference, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin remarked, “Our storage facilities are feeling the strain as they’re filled with expired doses.” “That’s especially as we have a new campaign to push for basic vaccination for children across the country.”
As per local news media KOMPASS.com, the bulk of the vaccinations were donated from developed nations before their expiration dates.
“When the vaccines were transferred to us, the average expiration date was between one and three months,” he added, adding that Indonesia accepted the free vaccines because of the outbreak scenario at the time.
Another reason for the vaccines being unused, according to Sadikin, is a drop in the country’s vaccination rate. The government’s original goal was for 90% of the population to be completely vaccinated, with an additional 80% receiving a booster shot.
“We discussed with [Prime Minister Joko Widodo] whether the vaccination rate was attainable,” he noted. “It would be more realistic to have 70 percent of the population fully vaccinated and 50 percent receive a booster shot.”
