VP Calls On Senior Citizens to Get Vaccinated

Vice President Ma’ruf Amin receives his first jab of COVID-19 vaccine, Wednesday (17/2), in Jakarta. (Photo by: Vice President Secretariat)

Vice President Ma’ruf Amin has appealed to the public, especially senior citizens, to participate in COVID-19 vaccination program in a joint effort to curb the pandemic.

“Alhamdulillah, thank God the Almighty, I have received the first jab of COVID-19 vaccine. It did not hurt and caused no headache. Therefore, I am inviting all senior citizens to also get vaccinated. God willing, there will be no side effects,” Ma’ruf Amin said at Vice President’s residence on Wednesday (17/2).

For the record, the Indonesian Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) has issued Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Sinovac’s COVID-19 vaccine for use on the senior citizens aged 60 and above.

According to the Vice President, in order to reach herd immunity against COVID-19, 70 percent of Indonesia’s population must receive the vaccine and for that reason, the people are obliged to participate in the vaccination program until Indonesia reaches herd immunity.

“Protecting ourselves from a disease is fard kifayah, meaning it is a communal obligation (for Muslims),” he said.

In the meantime, Head of COVID-19 National Working Committee Doni Monardo remarked that vaccination for senior citizens is the Government’s strategic program since it provides protection to group of people who is at higher risk from COVID-19 besides medical workers.

“The Vice President has set a good example for other senior citizens,” he said.

Echoing a similar sentiment, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin underscored that senior citizens are the target group for vaccination program after the Government rolled out vaccines to medical workers, adding that he also appreciated the Vice President for becoming an example of senior citizen in receiving the vaccines.

In the meantime, Presidential Vaccinator Dwi Edi Wahono said he was honored to be assigned to give the vaccine jab to the Vice President.

“We must protect senior citizens who are vulnerable to COVID-19 infections,” he said. (VICE PRESIDENT SECRETARIAT/UN) (RAS/EP)