Singapore to donate 60,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Batam, Indonesia
Batam currently is at 76.8% vaccinated, the donation of vaccine will push it over the 80% mark required to reopen border between Batam and Singapore.
According the Antara News, the Batam Mayor Muhammad Rudi announced that Singapore government plans to provide 60,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to the Singapore’s neighbouring island of Batam, a major city of Riau Islands, Indonesia.
According to the Mayor, Singapore’s requirement for reopening of the Batam-Singapore border depends on Batam reaching 80% vaccination of its residents as well as a downward trend in Covid-19 transmission. At the moment, Batam is at 76.8% vaccinated. DPA understood from residents that the vaccines used in Batam are mostly Sinovac or AstraZeneca, although there is report that some individuals managed to be vaccinated with Moderna vaccine.
Batam’s original vaccination target is 70%, but the Mayor is confident that with the 60,000 doses, Batam would be able to quickly reach 90% vaccinated.
“With the help of 60,000 doses of vaccine, vaccination can be quite fast, can reach 90 percent. Batam used to target 70 percent. If it can be 100 percent, why not?”
Batam Mayor, Muhammad Rudi
Batam’s COVID-19 situation seemed to be largely under control, with only 129 active cases, in which most of them is under self isolation. 48 cases are currently hospitalised. Daily cases in Batam is down less than 10 cases per day according to Batam government’s COVID-10 press releases (https://lawancorona.batam.go.id/category/press-release/)
“If there is a lot of vaccine, quickly arrive. We continue to be ready, easily Batam can be 100% vaccinated!”
Batam Mayor, Muhammad Rudi