Indonesia will provide free coronavirus vaccines to its citizens when the world’s fourth most populous nation starts its inoculation programme, President Joko Widodo has said, adding he would get the first shot to reassure people on safety.

The sprawling, developing country received its first shipment of vaccines, 1.2 million doses from China’s Sinovac Biotech in early December, but is awaiting emergency use authorisation from its food and drug agency.

“After receiving many people’s suggestions and after recalculating state financial calculations, I can say that Covid-19 vaccines for citizens will be free,” the president said in a video statement from the state palace in Jakarta.