Jokowi: I Hope No One Will Reject Vaccines

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo hopes that all Indonesians will be injected with the COVID-19 vaccine.

"I ask once again who wants to be vaccinated? Earlier how come you didn't want it? I hope everyone will, no one will refuse," said President Joko Widodo on the terrace beside the Bogor Presidential Palace, reported by Antara, Friday, December 18.

Jokowi conveyed this in the "Provision of Working Capital Assistance (BMK)" to around 30 micro and small entrepreneurs, each of whom received IDR 2.4 million.

Initially, when Jokowi asked the question whether among those present wanted to be vaccinated, no one raised his hand.

"Those present here want to be vaccinated? Anyone who wants to be vaccinated? Do you want it or not? How are you? What are you afraid of? There are those who don't want to be vaccinated? Are you here who don't want to be vaccinated?" asked him.

The answer to the question was greeted by silence and doubtful faces from the recipients of working capital assistance.

"I have already conveyed that I will be the first to be injected with the vaccine. In Indonesia, I will be vaccinated for the first time to show that vaccination is okay so that if everyone is vaccinated it means we are back to normal again," he said.

According to Jokowi, at least 70 percent of Indonesia's population out of a total of around 260 million people must be vaccinated against COVID-19.

"Ladies and gentlemen, can imagine that at least 70 percent of Indonesia's population must be vaccinated. We counted yesterday, 182 million people had to be vaccinated one by one, all vaccines were like small children after vaccination, like being bitten by ants, that's just , "he added.

With 182 million people to be vaccinated, according to Jokowi, it will take a long time.

"So once again as soon as tomorrow is vaccinated, the situation cannot be immediately normalized because only how many people have just been vaccinated it takes time to vaccinate one by one," he said.

The number of 182 million people who are vaccinated is to create communal immunity.

"Why does it have to be at least 70 percent? So that there is such a thing as communal immunity, 'herd immunity' if here you are in one RT and 70 percent have been vaccinated then it is safe because the 30 percent has been fenced off by the vaccinated, that's called 'herd immunity ', "added the President.

Jokowi also repeated his initial question, whether micro and small business actors want to be vaccinated, so the participants raised their hands even though only in front of their chest.

"MUI has also participated in the vaccine, the Ministry of Religion has followed it up to the factory. Later, MUI will also issue about the halal vaccine. Once again, who wants to be vaccinated with finger points? Is there anyone who doesn't want to? Want all," he said. he.

Jokowi on December 16 stated that the government had made vaccines free for all Indonesians so that there was no reason for people not to get vaccines.

A total of 1.2 million doses made by a pharmaceutical company from China, Sinovac, have also arrived at Soekarno-Hatta airport, Tangerang on Sunday, December 6, around 21.25 WIB, then 1.8 million doses of vaccine will arrive in early January 2021.

There are 6 types of vaccines that will be used for the implementation of COVID-19 vaccination based on the Decree of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia No HK.01.07 / Menkes / 9860/2020 on 3 December 2020.

The six types of vaccines are the COVID-19 vaccine produced by PT Bio Farma (Persero), AstraZeneca, China National Pharmaceutical Group Corporation (Sinopharm), Moderna, Pfizer Inc and BioNTech and Sinovac Biotech Ltd.

Vaccination with these six types of vaccines can only be done after obtaining a distribution permit or an emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM).

According to the Chairperson of the Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery who is also the Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto, the target recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine are 160 million people with the vaccine that must be provided is 320 million doses of vaccine.