Today, President Jokowi Is Vaccinated

President Joko Widodo (Photo: Twitter @jokowi)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is confirmed to be vaccinated against COVID-19 today, Wednesday, January 13. The vaccination process is planned to be carried out in the morning, around 9.00 WIB.

The process of injecting President Jokowi's COVID-19 vaccine will be broadcast live via live streaming broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat account.

"The initial vaccination is at 8.55 WIB. Live streaming on the Presidential Secretariat youtube," said a release from the Presidential Staff Office, Wednesday, January 13.

Previously, the Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) officially issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the COVID-19 vaccine made by a Chinese pharmaceutical company, Sinovac.

Head of BPOM Penny Lukito explained, with the issuance of an emergency permit for use, the Sinovac vaccine had received permission to be used in the vaccination program.

"The POM has given an emergency use authorization for the first COVID-19 vaccine for the Corona vax vaccine produced by Sinovac Biotech Incorporated in collaboration with PT Bio Farma," he said in an online press conference, Monday, January 11.

Penny said this emergency use permit was granted after BPOM reviewed the results of the Phase III clinical trial conducted in Bandung. In addition, BPOM also reviewed the results of the Sinovac vaccine clinical trials conducted in Turkey and Brazil.

The results of the third phase of clinical trials in Indonesia showed that the efficacy rate of the Sinovac vaccine reached 65.3 percent. The results of clinical trials in Turkey showed the efficacy rate of CoronaVac reached 91 percent and 78 percent in Brazil.

According to Penny, the results of this clinical trial in Indonesia are in accordance with the requirements of the World Health Organization, WHO. "These results are in accordance with WHO requirements, the minimum efficacy is 50 percent," he said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas asked all religious people not to hesitate to vaccinate against COVID-19. Because, he said, vaccination is an effort to protect each other from the threat of COVID-19.

"I want to ask all religious people who comply with the specified health criteria and conditions, so that they do not hesitate to take part in the COVID-19 vaccination when their turn comes," he said, after welcoming the arrival of 15 million raw materials for the COVID-19 vaccine, at Soekarno Airport. Hatta, Tangerang, Banten, Tuesday, January 12.

Yaqut also emphasized that the COVID-19 vaccine has obtained a halal and holy fatwa from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) in accordance with established criteria.

"This means that this vaccine can be used for all Muslims as long as its safety is guaranteed according to a credible and competent expert," he said.

Furthermore, Yaqut said, vaccines are an effort to protect one another, which is one of the teachings in all religions. Meanwhile, the vaccination program itself, said Yaqut, is the government's effort to protect its citizens.

"All religions without exception teach us to protect one another, and vaccination is part of an effort to carry out these religious teachings," he explained.

However, Yaqut emphasized that vaccines are not drugs but prevention efforts. To that end, he asked all parties to continue to apply the 3M health protocol, namely wearing masks, maintaining distance and washing hands.

"This vaccine, once again, is not a drug but a preventive measure. Therefore, it must be carried out simultaneously by adhering to the existing health protocols," he said.