Statement of President of the Republic of Indonesia during the Inspection of Mass COVID-19 Vaccination, 19 May 2021, at PT Bintan Inti Industrial Estate (BIIE), Bintan Regency, Riau Islands Province

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

Good afternoon,

May prosperity be upon us all.

This afternoon, I am in Riau Islands Province along with Mr. Minister, Commander of the Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police Chief, Riau Islands Governor, and Mr. Regent.

Today, the mass vaccination in Riau Islands is carried out in 67 locations targeting approximately 15,500 people. We hope the vaccination will immediately protect the community from the spread of COVID-19. We also hope that we can immediately achieve herd immunity to stop, reduce, and prevent COVID-19 transmission as quickly as possible.

And, the distribution of vaccines has become a problem here since it is an archipelagic province, making it difficult to reach those remote islands. For instance, the distance from here to Natuna Islands or from here to Anambas Islands is not short. However, I see that the distribution is well managed.

We hope that in the future, I told the Governor that if the vaccine runs out, go call Minister of Health immediately so that the supply will be maintained to stop the spread of COVID-19 in Riau Islands Province.

That concludes my remarks on this auspicious occasion.
I thank you.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. (RIF/MMB)