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Indonesia's president says the Covid-19 vaccine will be free
From CNN's Eric Cheung in Hong Kong
Workers unload a shipment of the Covid-19 vaccine made by Sinovac, upon its arrival from Beijing at the Jakarta International Airport in Indonesia on December 6.
Handout/Indonesian Presidential Palace/AFP/Getty Images
Indonesian President Joko Widodo said the country will provide free Covid-19 vaccines for all, state-run Antara News Agency reported on Wednesday.
"After re-calculating the state's financial standing, I can confirm that the Covid-19 vaccine would be offered free of charge to the public," he said. "There is no reason for the public to not get vaccinated."
Antara reported that Widodo has instructed ministries and local governments to prioritize the vaccination program in the 2021 budget.
Indonesia received 1.2 million doses of the vaccine from Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac on December 6.
The country is expected to receive another 1.8 million doses by early January, Antara reported.
Indonesia has so far reported 629,429 Covid-19 cases and 19,111 deaths.