COVID-19 Vaccination to Commence Next Week, Health Minister Says

Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Head of COVID-19 National Working Committee Doni Monardo, delivers press statement at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, on Wednesday (6/1). (Photo by: PR/Rahmat)

Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin, on Wednesday (6/1), confirmed that the Government is set to proceed the vaccination on the second week of January once the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) is issued by the Indonesian Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM).

The Government has started the distribution of 1.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to 34 provinces across Indonesia on 3 January and is projected to finish in 7 January 2021.

“The vaccination is projected to be given to a total of 181 million Indonesian population within 15 months,” he said in a delivers press statement after joining a limited meeting at the Presidential Office, Jakarta.

For that reason, he added, the Ministry will do the utmost to speed up the vaccination process. Furthermore, he asked supports from various sides including the media that can disseminate information to health facilities to register data of COVID-19 vaccine recipients in Primary Care (Pcare) application developed by the Healthcare and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan).

“Please remind the Puskesmas (community health centers) to communicate with health agency in their respective areas if they face issue for example when the numbers of their refrigerators are not enough to store the vaccines,” he stated.

The Minister also called on the public to limit mobility for two weeks in a bid to curb the COVID-19 cases that will eventually ease the burden of medical staff and protect their health.

“Do not forget to always wear face mask, frequently wash hand, and maintain safe distance,” he concluded. (TGH/UN) (RAS/LW)