First Dose Of COVID-19 Vaccination In East Kalimantan Reaches 74.92 Percent

Illustration of a COVID-19 vaccination. (Between)

KALTIM - The number of elderly people who have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in East Kalimantan has reached 74.92 percent. While the coverage of the second dose is 57.55 percent and the third dose is 12.75 percent

The Acting Head of the East Kalimantan Health Service, Masitah, said the figure was taken from data as of March 26, 2022.

"All districts/cities have reached above 60 percent for the coverage of the first dose. The second dose coverage has reached above 60 percent, namely the cities of Balikpapan, Bontang, and Mahakam Ulu Regency," said Masitah in Samarinda, Monday, March 28.

He explained that according to government recommendations to prevent the spread of COVID-19 transmission regardless of the type of variant, namely by implementing the 5M namely washing hands, wearing masks, maintaining distance, staying away from crowds, reducing mobility, and vaccination.

"Always be disciplined in implementing 5M and increasing vaccination coverage in the community because it has been proven that vaccination can prevent transmission. If it is infected, there is no severity so that not many are hospitalized and die," she explained, cited from Antara.

Ita emphasized that anticipation was always carried out in the face of a spike in cases during the current pandemic by preparing health infrastructure, both hospitals, and Integrated Isolations (isoter).

"We are increasing vaccination coverage by involving the National Armed Forces (TNI)-National Police (Polri) and related sectors as well as regulations issued regarding PPKM and long holidays," she explained.

Ita continued, before going home for Lebaran, checks are always carried out by the relevant sector, namely the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), both at airports and seaports in the East Kalimantan region.

"The checks were carried out to see Care to Protect passengers in accordance with the regulations issued by the National COVID-19 Task Force for travelers," she said.

The Acting Head of Health Service (Kadinkes) also added, according to the direction of the President of the Republic of Indonesia on March 23, 2022, regarding the implementation of health protocols (prokes) in the month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, it can be carried out by running prokes.

People are allowed to go home on the condition that they have received a booster dose of vaccination. Meanwhile, civil servants are prohibited from holding iftar together. "We are still waiting for the complete regulation to be issued by the National COVID-19 Task Force Circular Letter," she said.