Gov’t Set to Begin COVID-19 Vaccination Next Week

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto gives press statements at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Monday (04/01). (Photo by: PR/Jay)

The Indonesian Government has announced it will start begin COVID-19 vaccination next week.

“It was reported that the Government would immediately start to carry out vaccination program scheduled around the middle of the month or next week. We are waiting for the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) and also matters related to halal issues,” Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said in a press statement at the Presidential Office, Monday (04/01).

The Government, Airlangga said, continues to secure COVID-19 vaccines, among others, through collaboration with British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, US-based pharmaceutical company Pfizer, US-based vaccine manufacturer Novavax, and GAVI (Global Alliance Vaccines and Immunization).

The Minister, who is also Chairperson of the Committee for COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery (KPCPEN), also expressed hope that the vaccination program can boost public confidence.

However, he added, in addition to the vaccination program, public discipline is crucial in implementing health protocols, adding that the implementation of the program for around 182 million Indonesians also takes time.

“The President certainly hopes that the vaccination and community discipline must go hand in hand,” he said.

The Government, Airlangga said, will also continue to encourage increased public discipline in implementing the 3M health protocol (wearing a face mask, maintaining physical distancing, washing hands), and also avoiding crowds.

Airlangga also stated that the Government continued to encouraged the implementation of health protocols through Operasi Yustisi inspection.

“Even with vaccination, discipline measures are still necessary. This global pandemic is not over yet,” he said.

On the handling of COVID-19, Airlangga went on to say that at the end of December last year there was an increase in active cases, with the number of active cases as of 3 January reaching 110,679 cases. For this reason, the Government encourages the optimization of hospital beds in Indonesia, he added.

“The Central Government will reallocate (beds) for COVID-19 handling in government hospitals. It will be increased by 30 percent and Minister of Health will prepare for this,” he said.

In addition, the Government will also increase the number of health personnel, especially nurses, he added.

“Ministry of Health will increase the number of health personnel. Our target is 10,000 (personnel)and  increasing the number of nurses to 7,900 people in 141 health facilities,” Airlangga said.

The Minister further said that the Government also continued to encourage the reinforcement of the implementation of the COVID-19 Health Protocol, especially in non-referral health facilities, and said it is also necessary to apply 3T (Testing, Tracing, and Treatment) on target.

“The Government continues to encourage improvements rather than surveillance, be it tests, tracing, or isolation,” Airlangga said.

The Government will also continue to monitor developments after Christmas and New Year holidays, he added.

“The Government will evaluate it in the next two weeks. Improvement of disciplinary measures in various places is continuously monitored, both at workplaces and in places of economic activities,” he said. (TGH/UN) (FI/EP)