Religious Leaders Enter The COVID-19 Vaccination Priority Group, Located In Istiqlal Mosque

ILLUSTRATION / Injection of the COVID-19 vaccine (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Mass COVID-19 vaccination for religious leaders is a priority for the government. The Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta is one of the locations for the COVID-19 vaccination.

The COVID-19 vaccination at the Istiqlal Mosque is planned for a week. The target recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine are 5 thousand people.

Director-General of Disease Prevention and Control (P2), Ministry of Health, Maxi Rein Rondonuwu, said vaccinations at the Istiqlal Mosque will take place from Tuesday, February 23. It is targeted that the COVID-19 vaccination will be followed by 1,100 to 1,200 people every day for the next week.

"I think this is a very good example, religious leaders are all united here to get vaccinated and we can do it in other places throughout Indonesia", he said in a written statement.

Maxi conveyed that religious leaders are one of the priorities for the COVID-19 vaccination program. The role of religious leaders has a duty that is directly related to the community in carrying out religious guidance.

"Religious figures and leaders are a category of public service officers considering their duties and functions in Indonesia are as religious leaders who directly deal with the community", he continued.

Also, most of them are elderly aged 60 years and over.

"It is hoped that the vaccination of religious figures can become an example for the community to be vaccinated," said Maxi.

The vaccination program at the Istiqlal Mosque received good responses from various religious leaders. Maha Biksu Dutavira Sthavira, Chairperson of the Central Executive Council of the Mahayana Buddhist Council of the Holy Land of Indonesia, welcomed the implementation of vaccination for these religious leaders.

Maha Biksu Dutavira is willing to be vaccinated because he believes in the government's program. "I was vaccinated to protect myself, my family, and the closest people I love", he said.

The 67-year-old Maha Monk also said that if this momentum is properly socialized, it will ward off people's doubts about the country and people would be more determined to worship, because the state really cares about the safety of its people.

"I have been vaccinated, all the nation's children participate in vaccinations with one belief that we are healthy, our families are also healthy, we can maintain and obey the 5M protocol (Wearing Masks, Keeping Distance, Washing Hands, Avoiding Crowds, and Reducing Mobility) means we protect the safety of our families also", said Maha Biksu Dutavira.