Gov’t Calls for Vaccination Acceleration in W. Sumatra, Health Minister Says

Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat)

Based on the report from Ministry of Health, as of 10 October 2021, there was only 1,114,877 people or 25.29 percent that have been administered the first dose of vaccine and as many as 568,327 people or 12,89 percent have got the second dose in West Sumatra province, while the total target of the vaccination is 4,408,509. Thus, it makes West Sumatra province become one of three provinces in Indonesia with low COVID-19 vaccination rate.

The statement was delivered by Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin during his working visit in Padang city, West Sumatra province, on Tuesday (12/10/2021).

For the record, doubts and fear over COVID-19 vaccine become one of the causes of the low vaccination rate in the province. In point of fact, COVID-19 vaccine brings a lot of benefits including boosting immune system and preventing body from new COVID-19 mutations. In addition, the Government has announced that the vaccine distribution was carried out through a series of rigorous researches so that it ensured the vaccine’s safety, quality, benefit.

On that occasion, Budi said that one of effective measures to speed up vaccination in West Sumatra province can be started from the individual level. Then, everyone must reassure other people including family members, friends, neighbors to get vaccinated so that the community can achieve herd immunity.

In addition to vaccination, the Health Minister underscored that the implementation of tracing, testing, and treatment (3T) and the enforcement of wearing face masks, keeping physical distances, washing hands (3M) must be carried out to curb COVID-19 spread in the province.

“Vaccination acceleration, health protocols implementation, and public surveillance to trace COVID-19 cases are aspects that we have to prepare before next year’s January,” he remarked. (PR of Ministry of Health/UN) (AP/LW)