Gov’t Speeds Up COVID-19 Vaccination through Additional Supply of Vaccines

The arrival of the seventh batch of COVID-19 vaccines at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, Banten, Thursday (25/3) (Photo by: (Presidential Secretariat Press Bureau/Rusman)

The arrival of 16 million doses of Sinovac vaccine bulk in Indonesia on Thursday (25/3) has increased vaccine availability used for the Government’s mass vaccination program.

“With the additional supply of vaccines, we will constantly improve the pace and speed of vaccination per day so that we can inoculate 181.5 million people to reach the threshold of herd immunity faster,” Deputy Minister of Health Dante Saksono Harbuwono said in his press statement at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten.

Dante went on to say that the Government continues to intensify mass vaccination program in several regions by cooperating with various stakeholders as part of the efforts to accelerate vaccination. The vaccination centers have also been established in various regions across the country, he added.

“Hopefully, the arrival of vaccines will provide great benefit to us and the acceleration of vaccination process in Indonesia will optimally reach the expected target,” he said.

The Deputy Minister further added that based on the evaluation, the vaccination program has shown impressive results. The 100 percent vaccination coverage for health workers has resulted in a decrease in the number of health workers exposed to COVID-19.

“There is a decrease in COVID-19 active cases in all regions and bed occupancy rates in all vertical hospitals that have been evaluated in Indonesia. The results have proved that the recipients of the vaccine receive great benefit and it also reduces severity of COVID-19 disease,” he stated.

Currently, the second phase of vaccination is being carried out targeting the elderly group as well as officers and public servants throughout Indonesia.

“President Jokowi witnessed the mass vaccination yesterday in Kao District, North Halmahera Regency, North Maluku Province, one of remote areas in Indonesia with a population of around 9,400 people. We are targeting 100 people per day, including public servants, farmers, market traders, and the elderly,” Dante said.

Furthermore, the Deputy Minister also encouraged the public to get vaccinated when their turn comes since the safety of vaccines is the Government’s top priority. For those who have been vaccinated, Dante reminded them to remain disciplined in implementing health protocols.

“For those who have been vaccinated, don’t forget to adhere to the 3M’s health protocol because this is very important. The vaccination doesn’t mean that it will make people completely immune to the virus, but it takes time for the immune system to function in the body,” he said. (TGH/UN) (RIF/MMB)