The Third Wave Of COVID Lurks, The Ministry Of Health Aims For 70 Percent Vaccinations In Agglomeration Areas

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) targets the achievement of the first dose of COVID-19 vaccination to reach 70 percent of the target population in the agglomeration area by the end of September 2021. This step is to prevent the potential third wave of COVID.

"We hope that in September we can achieve 70 percent of the first dose in agglomeration areas," said the Ministry of Health's COVID-19 Vaccination Spokesperson Siti Nadia Tarmizi when contacted by Antara, Wednesday, September 22.

The agglomeration areas in question are Greater Jakarta, Greater Bandung, Greater Yogyakarta, Greater Solo. According to Nadia, the area has the potential to increase community mobilization, especially travelers during Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Another strategy is to increase the coverage of the first dose of vaccination to 70 percent of the population in provincial capital areas outside Java-Bali.

"70 percent of the first dose in provincial capitals outside Java-Bali must be reached in October 2021. So we are really ready to anticipate the next wave with vaccine protection," he said.

Nadia said the Indonesian Ministry of Health was also implementing strengthening health protocols and monitoring community mobilization, especially ahead of Christmas and New Year celebrations.

"We also use the PeduliLindung application to improve health protocols and change behavior," he said.

Nadia said several Ministry of Health policies also target efforts to strengthen the downstream sector, namely all health service facilities (fasyankes) such as hospitals and health centers by preparing isolation rooms and adding health workers.

According to Nadia, a number of centralized isolation facilities are still on standby even though the pandemic situation in recent weeks has experienced a decline in the trend of cases.

"Strengthening the strategy in the upstream and downstream sectors is important to anticipate a spike in cases," he said.

Nadia added that several internal factors that caused the increase in cases and the spread of the virus were increased domestic mobility, and community social activities that occurred at the same time.

"People's disregard for health protocols has triggered an increase in cases," he said.