Prevent The Elderly From Queuing For The COVID-19 Vaccine Such As In Kembangan Hospital, Ministry Of Health To Improve The System

Spokesperson for the Task Force (Task Force) Handling COVID-19 Wiku Adisasmito

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) and several health facilities continue to strive to improve the queue system for administering vaccines, especially for the elderly.

This was conveyed by the Spokesperson for the Task Force Handling COVID-19 Wiku Adisasmito in response to the viral video of elderly who have long queued at Kembangan Hospital, Jakarta some time ago.

"The Ministry of Health and health facilities will continue to improve the queue system for vaccines so that the elderly can more easily get information on vaccines and adjust the arrival time at health facilities", Wiku said in a press conference broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat YouTube account, Thursday, February 25.

Also, to prevent queues from spreading, the government will try to expand the coverage of locations for the COVID-19 vaccine. Because currently, the location of vaccines for the elderly can only be found in health facilities for certain provincial and district/city capitals.

"So that people, especially the elderly who live far from the provincial capital, can get vaccines in a more affordable location", he said.

Previously reported, the Regional General Hospital (RSUD) Kembangan, West Jakarta, vaccinated the elderly. However, sadly, several elderly residents have to queue. Even the queue is quite long, aka snaking.

This incident was viral on Twitter social media shared by @btsvkookheart. Various comments came from netizens. The average comments give criticism regarding the implementation of vaccination.

"The queue number is not limited, at least making a post again, so they don't queue long. They are elderly", said @WhizhList.

Apart from criticism, there are also suggestions. "Those who queue should be their children or grandchildren who are already big. When the turn is near, it can be replaced. So pity the elderly have queued long too", said @AbodYoWes.

In this video, it is stated that a number of these elderly people have been queuing at 05.00 WIB in the Morning.

Meanwhile, Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta, Ahmad Riza Patria, said that the snaking queue for vaccinations shows the high enthusiasm of residents over 60 to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

"Even though there are queues at Tanah Abang (for market traders) and for the elderly, I think this shows the enthusiasm and support of the community. All the elderly are very happy with the presence of vaccines", said Riza at the City Hall of DKI, Central Jakarta, Tuesday, February 23.

According to Riza, the elderly vaccination queue proves that negative perceptions regarding vaccines can be broken. Because people in droves want to be vaccinated.

"In principle, we are happy and supportive. Let us all support national vaccination for our efforts to reduce and break the chain of COVID-19", he said.

Regarding this, Riza admitted that she received offers of assistance from several community organizations to help unravel the queues for elderly vaccinations that were running in several health facilities.

"Today alone I have received 2 to 3 calls from several organizations that wish to also help gather the elderly, and receive special treatment so that they are separated from the others so that there is no crowd", he said.