Gov’t Kicks Off COVID-19 Vaccination for People with Disabilities
Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin on Tuesday (01/06) launched COVID-19 vaccination for people with disabilities, both those with physical disabilities and mental disabilities.
“This is the first time for the Government provides vaccination for people with mental disabilities. People with mental disorders generally have many comorbidities but they cannot tell others what they really feel. Therefore, I believe it is a good start to provide them with access to COVID-19 vaccine,” Budi said at dr. H. Marzoeki Mahdi mental hospital in Bogor city, West Java province.
In the meantime, Health Ministry’s Director of Mental Health Siti Kalimah reported that as many as 562,242 people with disabilities in all regions across Indonesia would be inoculated.
According to her, persons with disabilities can get the vaccine at any health facility / vaccination center that are not limited to their address written on their identity card.
This vaccination drive is in accordance with Circular of Minister of Health number HK.02.01/MENKES/598/2021 on Acceleration of COVID-19 Vaccination for the Elderly, People with Disabilities, as well as Educators and Education Personnel.
The vaccination is carried out in collaboration with communities, local organizations, and private sectors, including in the registration process and in transporting them to the health facilities where COVID-19 vaccination is carried out.
Ministry of Social Affairs has been also working with Ministry of Home Affairs’ Directorate General of Population and Civil Registration to roll out the vaccination drive at shelters owned by Ministry of Social Affairs according to data of neglected people with mental disorders who do not have a Population Identification Number (NIK).
“For shelters owned by Ministry of Social Affairs, community health centers in the nearby area will come to carry out the vaccination. Those community health centers also provide home-based services,” said Siti Kalimah. (Ministry of Health/UN) (EST/EP)
