Bad News In Central Java, Many Vaccines Expire On January 13

Ganjar Pranowo (Photo via Central Java Provincial Government)

SEMARANG - Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo asked all regional heads to boost vaccination. Ganjar also warned that there would be no more cases of expired vaccines in Central Java.

The warning was given when Ganjar chaired a coordination meeting on the handling of Covid-19 in the meeting room of building A on the 2nd floor of the Central Java Provincial Government complex, Monday, January 3. During the meeting, there were a number of regions that had sufficient stock of vaccines but their validity period would expire on January 13.

"I remind my friends that the vaccines that are indicated to be expiring will continue to be watched. We have given the maps one by one, where and how many. Don't let any vaccines expire again, friends," said Ganjar to the regent/mayor who attend online meetings.

Ganjar explained, a number of regions that have vaccine stocks that will expire on January 13 will be asked to immediately accelerate. If they have difficulties, they are asked to immediately coordinate with him.

"Cilacap, there are 13 thousand more vaccines that will expire on January 13, Pati there are 23 thousand doses, Grobogan there are 1.010 doses, Jepara there are 4.270 doses, Kebumen 3,630 doses, Pemalang 8000 doses, Purworejo 11 thousand and other areas. I ask to be injected immediately so that it is not wasted," he said.

In addition to the expiry date of January 13, Ganjar also reminded that there are many vaccine stocks that will expire at the end of the month. The majority of the vaccines that will expire are the AstraZeneca vaccine.

"I remind you of this, don't let it happen again that there is an expired vaccine in Central Java.

Asked about the achievement of vaccination in Central Java, Ganjar said that 22.8 million people in Central Java, or 79.49 percent had been vaccinated with the first dose. Meanwhile, for the second dose, a total of 17.3 million or 60.35 percent have been vaccinated.

"Indeed, there are still two areas that are of concern to us, namely Tegal and Pemalang Regencies. In those two areas, the first dose of vaccination has not reached 70 percent. We will encourage and assist continuously so that it can be accelerated," he concluded.

On that occasion, Ganjar had a dialogue with areas where vaccination achievement was still low. To them, Ganjar asked about the problems in the field and the strategy to be implemented.

To Ganjar, the Regional Secretary of Tegal Regency, Joko Mulyono said, there are a number of areas in his area where the community refuses to be vaccinated. They were influenced by local leaders and insisted they did not want to be vaccinated.

"But we will continue to approach these community leaders, including collaborating with the TNI/Polri to accelerate it. We are targeting that this week's vaccination achievement in Tegal Regency has reached 70 percent," said Joko.