Makassar City Government Holds Vaccination For Shipowners And ABK

MAKASSAR - The Makassar City Government, South Sulawesi held vaccinations for ship owners and crew members who provide crossing services for island residents.

Head of Sangkarrang Makassar City, Akbar Yusuf, said that 80 shipowners and crew members had been vaccinated at Tumbak Kayu Bangkoa Port, Makassar. Among them, 54 people were recorded as eligible to be vaccinated.

"On Monday, we will vaccinate, the registered data is 80 people, but 54 people meet the requirements and the rest will continue on their respective islands," he said, quoted by Antara, Monday, September 20.

Akbar explained that vaccination for them is one of the strategies in attracting the interest of islanders to participate in vaccination.

Those who have been vaccinated, said Akbar, are expected to motivate families, ship passengers, and islanders to get vaccinated, telling stories about vaccine experiences that are not scary.

"Today's activity is a kind of motivation to our residents in the islands by prioritizing ship owners and crew members. At least they will tell the passengers they brought from the island to the mainland that the vaccine is good and there will be no negative impact," said Akbar.

Based on Akbar's assessment, what is developing in the community is concern about the impact of vaccine injections.

"So with this, we tried to mediate, together with the Danramil, the police chief, we had a dialogue at the dock and they agreed to vaccinate the crew and shipowners," he continued.

Sangkarrang sub-district consists of eight islands, but one of them is uninhabited. Vaccination coverage in this sub-district is still relatively minimal, around 20 percent.

Those who have been vaccinated are dominated by local ASN, health workers, teachers, sub-district and sub-district employees as well as COVID-19 detectors in the archipelago, while the local community is still small.