Presidential Special Staffer Calls for Pentahelix Collaboration to Combat COVID-19

Presidential Special Staffer Fadjroel Rachman. (Photo by: Cabinet Secretariat PR)

Presidential Special Staffer on Communication, Fadjroel Rachman, called on all sides to combat disinformation and misinformation regarding COVID-19 and its vaccine.

“In tackling that issue, I ask for a joint cooperation,” he said in a webinar titled ‘COVID-19 Vaccine; A Challenge and A Hope’, on Friday (29/1).

For the public who are still questioning about halal (permissible under Islamic law) state of COVID-19 vaccine, Fadjroel confirmed that the vaccine has received halal fatwa (edict) from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI).

“I hope all participants of this webinar, including religious figures, can tell the public to erase their doubt on vaccine which has been given to President Joko Widodo and other prominent figures on 13 and 27 January 2020,” he said.

In addition, the Indonesian Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) has issued the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) that affirmed the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.

All nation’s elements, he said, must disseminate that information to the public through pentahelix collaboration that involved five elements, namely Central Government and regional governments, academics, media, business sector, and communities.

Pentahelix collaboration also played significant role in the success of the Government’s efforts in handling COVID-19, through the health protocols (wearing mask, maintaining safe distance & avoiding crowds, and washing hands), vaccination program, and 3T measures (testing, tracing, and treatment).

“Let me quote the President’s statement that we cannot solve this matter all alone. It is our common responsibility to curb the pandemic for the sake of 270.20 million Indonesian people and join the world in a fight against COVID-19,” he stated. (FID/UN) (RAS/LW)