Gov’t Continues COVID-19 Booster Shots for Industrial Workers
President Jokowi inspects the booster vaccination for industrial workers at the Marunda Centre Industrial Estate in Bekasi regency, West Java province (02/24) (Source: A screenshot)
After inspecting COVID-19 vaccination at construction and mining equipment manufacturer PT. Komatsu in North Jakarta, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Thursday (02/24) was slated to inspect booster vaccination for industrial workers at agribusiness focused company PT. Sinar Mas Agro Resources and Technology (SMART) at Marunda Centre Indsutrial Estate in Bekasi regency, West Java province.
According to the President, the Government gave industrial workers a priority to get booster vaccine so that industrial production process can run as usual and the workers be protected from COVID-19.
During an online dialogue with the President, one of vaccination organizers at Medan Industrial Estate in North Sumatra province said that industrial workers in the area received 6,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine for the first phase of booster vaccination.
“From 35,000 employees in the Medan Industrial Estate, we received an allocation of 6,000 AstraZeneca packages from Medan City Government and North Sumatra Provincial Government. And today we are going to administer for 400 doses of vaccine,” the representative of the Medan Industrial Estate said.
Responding to the report, the President urged the vaccination organizer to boost vaccination drive so that all workers in all industries in the area can be protected from COVID-19.
In the meantime, one of vaccination organizer at the state-owned steelmaker Krakatau Steel Group in Cilegon city, Banten province said that previously the organizer has administered 3,500 doses of booster vaccine and today it is targeted to vaccinate 1,000 workers.
President Jokowi also expressed hope that vaccination drive for industrial workers can run well.
“Immediately use all vaccines that have been allocated. We expect the industrial sector will not be disrupted due to COVID-19 pandemic. Everything must resume: production, export process must run so that our economy grows properly,” he remarked.
For the record, Ministry of Industry previously has issued Circular Letter Number 2 of 2022 on Third Dose Vaccination / Booster Vaccine for Industrial Workers and Industrial Estates.
“Booster vaccination for industrial workers is also the Government’s priority so that the workers can work optimally and productively that will affect economic growth,” Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said.
This vaccination drive for industrial workers, according to the Minister, aims to improve workers’ immunity and ensure that industrial activities can run well, adding that the vaccination drive has been carried out since 202 and as of today the coverage of the vaccination has reached 89.73 percent for the first dose and the second dose.
“Manufacturing industry is the backbone of the national economic growth. Thus, industries must keep moving to rebuild the economy,” he remarked.
For the record, other industrial estates that carried out COVID-19 booster vaccination for industrial workers are Gresik Industrial Estate in East Java province, Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) in Central Sulawesi province, Jababeka Industrial Estate in Bekasi regency, West Java province, MM2100 Industrial Estate in Bekasi regency, West Java province, Karawang International Industrial City in West Java province, Bogorindo Industrial Estate in Bogor regency West Java, PT. Pan Brothers in Banten province, and PT. Deliatex Kusuma in Bandung regency, West Java province.
As many as 59,109 workers was slated to be vaccinated. (FID/UN) (AP/EP)
