Study of Indonesian Vaccine Diplomacy at Bilateral, Regional, and Multilateral Levels to Overcome Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Indonesia has continued to carry out vaccine diplomacy since the Covid-19 pandemic emerged in early 2020. Vaccine diplomacy is considered important because vaccines are a crucial tool in dealing with the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. This study aimed to analyze how Indonesia’s vaccine diplomacy is carried out in the form of bilateral, regional, and multilateral cooperation to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, the research also focused on the opportunities and challenges faced by Indonesia in making vaccine diplomacy (health diplomacy) to strengthen health security and national health independence. This research used a qualitative approach. The results showed various efforts made by Indonesia to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic at different levels, namely bilateral, regional, and multilateral. This is done by Indonesia to meet the supply of vaccines in an effort to create health security and national health independence. However, there are challenges in its implementation. Indonesia is still struggling against the COVID-19 pandemic, but also has an interest at the global level to actively participate in global health policies. Therefore, it is important for Indonesia to effectively coordinate with the various collaborations that have been established. In the implementation of Indonesia’s health diplomacy at the bilateral, regional and multilateral levels, it also creates opportunities for Indonesia’s economic recovery, where Indonesia can maximize the production of personal protective equipment. However, it needs to be a concern for Indonesia that in maximizing these commodities, various internal and external aspects must be considered so that effectiveness can be felt not only for Indonesia but also for destination countries. Keywords: vaccine diplomacy, bilateral, regional, multilateral, Covid-19