Representatives from Various Backgrounds Participate in First COVID-19 Vaccination
President Jokowi meets with recipients of the first COVID-19 vaccination in the country. (Photo by: PR/Jay)
The Indonesian Government has officially kicked off the free COVID-19 vaccination program on Wednesday (13/01), joined by representatives from various backgrounds.
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo was the first person in the country to receive the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The program was commenced after the Food and Drugs Monitoring Agency (BPOM) issued the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the vaccine based on the results of phase three clinical trials in Bandung and other scientific data. In addition, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has also issued a halal fatwa for vaccines used in this vaccination program.
Some of the representatives who participated in the vaccination held at the Merdeka Palace were:
- Daeng Mohammad Faqih, Chairperson of the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI);
- Amirsyah Tambunan, Secretary-General of the MUI and representative of the Islamic organization Muhammadiyah;
- Ahmad Ngisomudin, Rais Syuriah of the Executive Board of the Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama;
- Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, the Indonesian National Defense Forces Commander;
- General Idham Azis, the Indonesian National Police Chief; and
- Raffi Ahmad, millennial representative and public figure.
Apart from the representatives mentioned above, a number of representatives also joined the first vaccination in the following sessions. The representatives in the following sessions were: Budi Gunadi Sadikin (Minister of Health), Unifah Rosyidi (General Chair of Indonesian Teachers Association), Ronald Rischard Tapilatu (Communion of Churches in Indonesia), Father Agustinus Heri Wibowo (Bishops’ Conference of Indonesia), I Nyoman Suarthani (Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia), Partono Nyanasuryanadi (Indonesian Buddhist Association Permabudhi), and Peter Lesmana (Supreme Council for the Confucian Religion in Indonesia).
In addition, other representatives also participated, namely Penny Kusumastuti Lukito (Head of BPOM), Rosan Perkasa Roeslani (Chairperson of Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Ade Zubaidah (Secretary General of the Indonesian Midwives Association), Harif Fadhillah (Chairperson of the Indonesian National Nursing Association Central Executive Board), Nur Fauzah (nurse), Lusy Noviani (Deputy Secretary-General of the Indonesian Pharmacists Association), Agustini Setiyorini (labor representative), and Narti (trader representative).
Furthermore, Spokespersons for the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Wiku Adisasmito and Reisa Asmo Subroto also participated in this vaccination.
For the record, the Government upholds the principle of prudence in implementing this COVID-19 vaccination program. Besides waiting for the issuance of EUA and halal fatwa, a number of other requirements that must be met by vaccine recipients are also seriously considered.
In the case of medical conditions, some of the representatives cannot take the vaccine injection during the occasion. This is a form of precaution to ensure the safety of vaccine recipients. (FID/DND/TGH/BPMI/UN) (FI/LW)
