July 12, 2021

Duckworth Announces U.S. Shipment of 1.5 Million American Vaccine Doses to Indonesia as Biden Administration Ramps Up Vaccine Diplomacy

 

New numbers bring total American doses sent to Indonesia to 4.5 million 

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) announced that the United States sent a donation of 1.5 million doses of the Moderna vaccine to Indonesia today. This new tranche is in addition to the 3 million doses of the Moderna vaccine that the Biden Administration announced late last week, bringing the total American doses donated to the nation to 4.5 million. Duckworth lived in Indonesia as a child before serving in the United States Reserve Forces for 23 years. She is now a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and recently led a Congressional Delegation visit to Taiwan, where she helped announce an American donation of vaccine doses.

“I’m so pleased to announce today the United States is sending 1.5 million American vaccine doses to Indonesia as the nation faces a tragic surge in COVID cases and deaths. These American vaccine will supplement the 3 million doses we sent last week and they come with no strings attached, but rather with the knowledge that no nation can be completely safe in COVID-19 until all nations are—so we have to work together to save lives and help bring an end to this awful pandemic everywhere. I’ll keep working closely with the Indonesian government to support the people of Indonesia and make sure they receive the safe, effective vaccines doses and international aid they need to reach the other side of this deadly pandemic.”

On Friday, Duckworth spoke with the Indonesian Chargé d’Affaires in Washington, D.C., Mr. Iwan Freddy Hari Susanto, who is the highest-ranking Indonesian Embassy official in the United States, to underscore our government’s and our nation’s commitment to the Indonesian people as they seek to overcome a tragic and recent surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths. During Duckworth’s conversation last week with Chargé Susanto, they also discussed the U.S. government’s continued efforts to increase assistance for Indonesia’s broader COVID-19 response efforts, which has included more than $14.5 million in direct COVID-19 relief, including $3.5 million to help vaccinate Indonesians quickly and safely. USAID support is also providing health education for the public, working to train thousands of health workers and funding a national COVID-19 information website that reaches more than 36 million people. The U.S. government has also donated COVID-19 testing equipment, 1,000 ventilators and nearly 2,000 handwashing stations.