President Jokowi Calls on Indonesian Christians to Participate in COVID-19 Vaccination Program

President Jokowi delivers remarks at the opening of virtual Assembly Workers’ Meeting of the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI), Monday (25/1)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has appealed to all Christians in Indonesia to participate in COVID-19’s free vaccination program.

“I’d like to invite all Christians and board of the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) to work with the Government in contributing to the success of vaccination program, to educate the public (about the vaccination), and to disseminate accurate information that vaccination is vital for the country to recover from the pandemic,” the President said at his remarks at the opening of virtual Assembly Workers’ Meeting of the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI), Monday (25/1).

For the record, COVID-19 vaccination program has begun since 13 January 2020 in which the President, along with representatives from various fields, received the first jab.

The vaccination will be given to 181.5 million people with an aim to reach herd immunity against COVID-19.

“The Government has procured 426 million doses of vaccines from four different manufacturers. There are also 30 thousand vaccinators, around 10 thousand community health centers (puskesmas), and more than 3,000 hospitals to support the program,” he said, adding that the public must always observe health protocols although the vaccination program has been rolled out.

In addition to COVID-19 vaccination program, the Government also affirmed its commitment in handling other health issues, including reduction of TBC and stunting rate.

On that occasion, President Jokowi also pointed out that the Government will continue to implement several social assistance program in 2021 to speed up national economic recovery and boost people’s purchasing power, such as Staple Food Card, the Aspiring Family Program (PKH), Social-cash Assistance, Pre-employment Card, Cash Transfer Assistance to Villages, incentives for medical workers, and incentives for small and medium businesses.

On that occasion, the President also urged the public to join hands in strengthening the values of Indonesians and developing the country by taking into account our diversity.

“Tolerance is a noble value to maintain diversity. We can be united if we acknowledge and respect the differences. Let us join hands in developing the country and upholding the values of state ideology Pancasila,” he concluded.

Indonesia is home to around 28.6 million Christians, which constitute 10.72% of the country’s population in 2018. Some provinces in Indonesia such as East Nusa Tenggara, Papua, North Sulawesi and some other provinces, are majority Christian (Protestant or Catholic). (TGH/UN) (RAS/EP)