Elderly Community, Get Ready For Covid-19 Vaccination Starting Next Week

JAKARTA - The second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination, which targets the elderly or elderly, will begin next week.

This was conveyed by the Spokesperson for COVID-19 Vaccination from the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) Siti Nadia Tarmizi.

"It is possible that we will start injecting (elderly vaccines, ed) in health care facilities next week," said Nadia in an online press conference broadcast on the YouTube account of the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Friday, February 19.

The COVID-19 vaccine will take place around Wednesday or Thursday next week. This is because there are still many health care facilities making preparations and switching from phase one injections targeting health workers or completing unfinished targets.

In addition, there are still several processes that need to be prepared, including registering or registering via the website. "It is only after registration that the district / city and provincial health offices prepare a schedule first," he explained.

"As soon as possible next week but we are waiting for the schedule from the provincial, city / regency health offices," he added.

There is also this vaccination will be prioritized in Java and Bali, especially in the DKI Jakarta Province. In addition, vaccination for the elderly will be focused in the capitals of 33 provinces in the country for the elderly who are over the age of 60.

"Apart from all municipalities in DKI Jakarta, this will be conducted in provincial capitals in 33 provinces such as Bandung City for West Java Province; Denpasar City for Bali Province; Medan City for North Sumatra Province; Makassar City, South Sulawesi and so on," he said. .

This vaccine is prioritized because the number of vaccines currently available is only 7 million doses of the total target for the elderly of 21.5 million doses.

"So, we say that 70 percent of the vaccines that will be distributed are in Java-Bali Island. Why, because we know the largest population there. So the largest population there. Why is it the capital city, because there are the most cases of COVID-19, then we are. focus, "he said.

Previously reported, in the national COVID-19 vaccination program, the government is targeting 181.5 million vaccine targets. They are people aged 18 years and over. Vaccine recipients receive twice the injection dose.

In the first stage, the vaccine is destined for 1.5 million. Then, in the second stage, COVID-19 vaccination is intended for the elderly and public service workers. The target is 21.5 million elderly and 16.9 million public workers. This program lasts until May.

They are market traders, educators, religious leaders and counselors, representatives of the people, officials, government, civil servants, TNI-Polri, tourism officers, public services, public transportation workers, athletes, and media workers.

Furthermore, vaccination will be carried out to 63.9 million vulnerable people or people living in areas with high risk of infection. Then, other communities as many as 77.7 million people. This program will be conducted from April 2021 to March 2022.