Vaccine and Health Protocols Important to Overcome Pandemic: Religious Leaders
Secretary General of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Amirsyah Tambunan receives an injection of COVID-19 vaccine, Wednesday (13/01) at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta. Photo by: Press Bureau of Presidential Secretariat/Kris
Vaccination and implementation of health protocols are important to overcome COVID-19 pandemic, Secretary General of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Amirsyah Tambunan has said.
“There are various efforts we can do, one of which is vaccination and the second is implementing health protocols,” Amirsyah said after receiving an injection of COVID-19 vaccine, Wednesday (13/01) at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta.
Amirsyah, who also represents Muhammadiyah,one of the largest Muslim organizations in Indonesia , said that the COVID-19 vaccination, which is provided free for the Indonesian people, is also part of the efforts to achieve herd immunity.
In the meantime, Rais Syuriah of Nahdlatul Ulama, another largest Muslim Organization in Indonesia , Ahmad Ngisomudin, also expressed support for the vaccination.
“Vaccination for all of us, the Indonesian people, is an effort to protect ourselves,” Ahmad, who was also the recipient of the first batch of COVID-19 vaccine, said.
Ahmad appealed the public to take part in the vaccination program to end the pandemic in Indonesia. He added that the vaccine has obtained halal certificate.
He also reminded the public the importance of following health protocols (wearing face masks, maintaining distance, avoiding crowds, and washing hands) amid the pandemic.
The recipients of the first batch of vaccination program also came from other religious organizations, including Ronald Rischard Tapilatu (the Indonesian Communion of Churches), Agustinus Heri Wibowo (the Indonesian Bishops Conference), I Nyoman Suarthani (the Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia), Partono Nyanasuryanadi (the Indonesian Buddhist Association), and Peter Lesmana (the Confucian Supreme Council of Indonesia). (DND/TGH/UN) (RI/LW)
