Facing increased COVID-19 infections and a deadly variant, Indonesia's doctors are at the centre of the crisis as many have died after being vaccinated by the Chinese COVID-19 vaccine - Sinovac.

Since the pandemic started,  reportedly, as many as 400 doctors in Indonesia have died, the risk mitigation team of the Indonesian Medical Association said on Friday. At least 20 doctors were fully vaccinated with Sinovac. However, things took a downturn when 358 medical workers in Kudus who were vaccinated with Sinovac tested positive during a two-week span, according to the risk mitigation team of the Indonesian Doctors Association.

On June 24, Indonesia's recorded more than 20,000 cases of COVID-19, the highest number since the pandemic began. Oxygen is again running out at hospitals in Jakarta, the country's capital, and the national percentage of positive COVID tests reached 14.6 percent this past week, reported the New York Times.  Indonesia has vaccinated less than 5 percent of its population, despite having started inoculations in January. Of those who have been vaccinated, most received doses of Sinovac, which is believed to be less effective against certain COVID-19 variants.

Sinovac, which is produced by a Chinese pharmaceutical company and promoted by the Chinese government, has been criticised for a lack of transparency about its clinical trials.

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