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Coronavirus: China’s Sinovac shots readied for mass roll-out in Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand
- Indonesian President Joko Widodo will be the first to get the jab when inoculations begin on January 13
- The Philippines and Thailand are also expected to receive millions of doses in coming months
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Covid-19 vaccines produced by the Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac are poised to be rolled out in several Southeast Asian countries, as a company official said interim efficacy data would be ready soon.
Indonesia said it would start a mass vaccination programme with the CoronaVac made by Sinovac on January 13, with President Joko Widodo first in line to receive the jab.
Indonesia is planning to vaccinate 181.5 million people, or roughly 67 per cent of its population, to reach herd immunity, according to its health minister, Budi Gunadi Sadikin.
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The country has also placed orders to buy 50 million vaccine doses from Pfizer/BioNTech and AstraZeneca respectively..
02:04
Coronavirus vaccine: Sinopharm ramps up production as China approves jab for use on general public
Coronavirus vaccine: Sinopharm ramps up production as China approves jab for use on general public
On Monday, Manila’s envoy to China, Chito Sta Romana, said Chinese vaccine makers Sinopharm and Sinovac would apply this week for an emergency use authorisation (EUA) with the Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration.
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