The COVID-19 Task Force Targets Vaccinations For The Elderly And Public Service Officers Completed By The End Of May

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JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the Task Force (Task Force) Handling COVID-19 Wiku Adisasmito said the second and third phase vaccinations, namely the elderly and public service officers, will be implemented soon.

The government is targeting, vaccine injection will be carried out until next May.

"Vaccinations for the second and third stages will be carried out soon, namely for the elderly and public service officers which will be implemented immediately and targeted for completion in May," Wiku said in a press conference broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat YouTube account, Tuesday, February 16.

The data on vaccine recipients will be based on data belonging to BPJS Kesehatan, Dukcapil, and the results of coordination with related ministries and institutions.

In addition, in administering the second and third stages of vaccines, the government will consider the number of cases and the level of transmission of COVID-19, the readiness of vaccine storage capacity, and areas that have reached the target of health workers.

On that occasion, Wiku also asked the public not to worry about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. This is because the government certainly uses vaccine products that are safe and have an emergency use of authorization (EUA) and have a halal certificate from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI).

Not only that, Wiku also said the COVID-19 vaccine had been used by the president and health workers. During this use, there were no serious Post-Immunization Follow-Up Incidents (AEFIs).

"The side effects that occur are generally mild and not serious and can disappear immediately. Therefore, people do not need to worry about the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine," he said.

"The importance of the vaccination program is in building community immunity or herd immunity. Therefore, I request that the public be able to participate in the vaccination program so that this herd immunity can be achieved immediately," added Wiku.

Previously reported, the Government is targeting 181.5 million vaccine targets. They are people aged 18 years and over. Vaccine recipients receive twice the injection dose.

In the first stage, the vaccine is intended for 1.5 health workers. Then, in the second stage, COVID-19 vaccination is for the elderly and public service workers. The target is 21.5 million elderly and 16.9 million public workers. This program lasts until May.

They are market traders, educators, religious leaders and counselors, representatives of the people, officials, government, civil servants, TNI-Polri, tourism officers, public services, public transportation workers, athletes, and media workers.

Furthermore, vaccination will be carried out for 63.9 million vulnerable people or people living in areas with high risk of infection. Then, other communities as many as 77.7 million people. This program will be carried out from April 2021 to March 2022.