Experienced In Pilkada, Home Affairs Minister Tito Asks Regional Heads In Aceh To Neutralize COVID Vaccine Hoaxes

Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian. ANTARA/HO-Kemendagri

JAKARTA - Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Muhammad Tito Karnavian asked regional heads in Aceh Province to prevent hoaxes about the COVID-19 vaccine. This effort needs to be done so that the community participates in the vaccination program.

"Sir, I ask for your help in neutralizing hoaxes regarding vaccine refusals," said the Minister of Home Affairs in a statement received in Jakarta, Antara, Tuesday, December 14.

The Minister of Home Affairs said that many hoaxes were spreading in the community which made them reluctant to participate in vaccinations. This is a challenge that needs to be addressed by the local government in Aceh Province.

Tito Karnavian believes that a regional head has various strategies to prevent hoaxes because they are trained when participating in regional head elections (pilkada) which are often colored by various hoaxes.

"The gentlemen are really experienced (handling hoaxes)," said the Minister of Home Affairs.

According to Tito, if the hoax that spreads is related to religious understanding, of course efforts to involve religious leaders will be important.

Another step, continued Tito, is to involve the ranks of the Ministry of Religion in Aceh Province.

The role of the Ministry of Religion, among others, is to provide understanding to educational institutions under its auspices, Islamic boarding schools and so on. That way, more people will be willing to take vaccinations.

The Minister of Home Affairs emphasized that local governments need to make various efforts to increase the rate of vaccination. This is because President Joko Widodo has targeted the achievement of the first dose of vaccination until the end of December 2021 of 70 percent of the total population.