Statement of President of the Republic of Indonesia and Dialogue with Commanders of Military Regions after Inspection of Mass COVID-19 Vaccination at Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Stadium, Senayan, 26 June 2021, Jakarta
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Good morning,
Good afternoon,
May peace be upon us all.
Today, I am grateful that we can carry out mass vaccination across Indonesia from Sabang to Merauke, from Miangas to Rote Island. Indeed, the target for today is one million (doses of) vaccine for the public, which we hope will be continually achieved in July.
And in August, our target will be two million (doses of) vaccine. Today I am at GBK. I do not know how many thousands of people behind me, but it shows the enthusiasm of the public to be healthy, to be vaccinated.
I order all ranks of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police, the Military Regional Command, the Regional Police, together with regional governments, to take part in disciplining the people in observing health protocols, mainly in terms of waring a face mask, maintaining a safe distance. Direct actions in terms of discipline are essential.
Commander of Brawijaya Military Region, please speak.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Brawijaya Commander?
Commander of the 5th Military Region/Brawijaya (Mayor General Suharyanto)
Yes. Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, good afternoon, may peace be upon us all.
Distinguished Mr. President, distinguished Minister of Health, Commander of TNI, Chief of the National Police, and Governor of Special Capital Region of Jakarta. We are reporting to you that in East Java province, the number of vaccines we received is 209,000, which consists of 61,000 (doses of) Sinovac vaccine and 148,000 (doses of) AstraZeneca vaccine.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
So, what is the target for today?
Commander of the 5th Military Region/Brawijaya (Mayor General Suharyanto)
The target is to inject all the 209,000 (doses), Sir. The implementation…
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
209,000 (doses), today? Okay.
Commander of the 5th Military Region/Brawijaya (Mayor General Suharyanto)
Yes. The implementation is carried out in unison. For today, there are two locations. 4,500 (doses) are for Surabaya, but all District Military Commands in East Java carry out vaccination with 3,000 (doses), Sir, 3,000 to 5,000 doses. For the implementation system, we carry out vaccination every day. There are routine vaccinations with 1,000-2,000 people, then there are sudden vaccinations on certain days with 3,000-5,000 people.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Commander…
Commander of the 5th Military Region/Brawijaya (Mayor General Suharyanto)
Then we formed joint vaccination teams consisting of East Java government officials, municipal government officials, TNI, (and) Police to carry out door to door vaccinations. Thus, the people are not gathered. Instead, the vaccination team will visit door to door. Because in many regions in East Java province, for example, pardon me, Madura region, we must visit the people to be vaccinated because if they are gathered, the result will not be optimal. The point is, we are ready to carry out sudden vaccinations, Sir. Mr. President, we are asking for your advice.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Commander, the target is 209,000 (doses). What if I provide 400,000 (doses of) vaccine? Can you use them all?
Commander of the 5th Military Region/Brawijaya (Mayor General Suharyanto)
Yes, Sir. Yes, we can. We are awaiting additional vaccines for East Java. We will carry out (vaccination) as soon as possible so as to immediately realize the Government’s target to carry out two million vaccinations.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Are you sure?
Commander of the 5th Military Region/Brawijaya (Mayor General Suharyanto)
Yes, we are, Sir.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Okay. Thank you, East Java. Thank you.
Commander of the 5th Military Region/Brawijaya (Mayor General Suharyanto)
Yes, Sir. Thank you.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Bali Military Regional Command?
Chief of Staff of the 9th Military Region/Udayana
Yes, Mr. President. Let me introduce myself. I am the Chief of staff of the 9th Military Region/Udayana. Denpasar city is carrying out…. (inaudible).
Commander of the 9th Military Region/Udayana (Mayor General TNI Maruli Simanjuntak)
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
Mr. President, allow me to report to you. Bali Military Regional Command covers Bali, East Nusa Tenggara, and West Nusa Tenggara, so we manage three provinces. We always have a lack of (vaccines), Sir, so our health care workers carried out the vaccination and stopped because indeed the provincial governments have carried it out well and so have the police, Sir. So, we have always used all of our vaccine supplies, Sir.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Okay. My question is, if I increase. My question is, if I increase (the number of) vaccines twofold, can you use them all?
Commander of the 9th Military Region/Udayana (Mayor General TNI Maruli Simanjuntak)
We can, Sir. We can because all this time, after carrying out vaccination for one day, we can have two to three days off, Sir.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Okay.
Commander of the 9th Military Region/Udayana (Mayor General TNI Maruli Simanjuntak)
If the number is doubled, we are still capable, Sir. But like Brawijaya, we are more dominant in unreachable areas. We have nine health care detachments in Bali province, East Nusa Tenggara province, and West Nusa Tenggara province, so we can reach people in remote areas.
That is all, Sir. We ask for your advice.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Thank you, Commander. For the additional vaccines, I will notify Commander (of the TNI), Chief of the National Police, and primarily the one who has the vaccines, Minister of Health, so that as many vaccines as possible can be distributed to the regions. Thank you, thank you.
Thank you, everyone, military regional commands, regional police, regional governments. And once again, let me underscore that governors, regents, and mayors, supported by all ranks of the TNI and the police, should control (and) check measures and everything related to COVID-19, and discipline the people, especially in observing health protocols.
Thank you.
Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. (DH/EP)