Approaching Ramadan, Riau Islands Provincial Government Encourages COVID-19 Vaccination For Imam Masjid, Khatib And Bilal

Health workers in Tanjungpinang check the health of potential vaccine recipients (Nikolas Panama / Antara)

JAKARTA - The Riau Islands Provincial Government encourages vaccination for mosque imams, preachers, and bilal to be carried out before this year's Ramadan.

"We hope that the mosque's imams, preachers, and bilal get vaccines before the fasting month. This is important to prevent the spread of COVID-19," said Regional Secretary of the Riau Islands Provincial Government, Tengku Said Arif Fadillah in Tanjungpinang, as reported by Antara, Sunday, March 21.

Arif, who is also the Chief Executive of the Riau Islands COVID-19 Handling Task Force, added that vaccinations for mosque imams, preachers, and bilal in Tanjungpinang are planned at Nur Ilahi Grand Mosque, Dompak Island, while in other districts and cities, the local government determines vaccination locations.

"Hopefully Tanjungpinang will receive the first dose for 300 mosque imams, preachers, and bilal. Likewise for Batam, Bintan, Karimun, Lingga, Natuna, and Anambas," he said.

He said that vaccinations for pastors, priests and monks also need to be prioritized so that religious activities can run smoothly.

"Keep implementing health protocols in worship," he said.

He hopes that the vaccination program in Riau Islands will be completed this year. The Riau Islands Provincial Government is ready to carry out this program optimally, because it has the full support of all elements of society.

The enthusiasm of the Riau Islands community is also high to get the vaccine over time. People's belief to be vaccinated after seeing the many good experiences of people who have been injected with the vaccine.

Sooner or later the vaccination program will be implemented, according to him, depending on the supply of vaccines.

Therefore, he hoped, the delivery of vaccines from the center to the regions could be accelerated.

"Until now, vaccinations are still ongoing. Hopefully it will be completed this year," he said.

Head of the Kepri Health Service Bisri said 3,566 elderly people in Tanjungpinang had been vaccinated against the first dose, while in Batam 39 people.

The elderly who live in Natuna, Anambas Islands, Lingga, Karimun, and Bintan have not been vaccinated.

Human resources (HR) for health in Riau Islands who have been vaccinated for the first dose consist of Tanjungpinang 2,603 people, Batam 7,672 people, Karimun 1,742 people, Bintan 1,425 people, Lingga 1,014 people, Natuna 1,103 people, and Anambas Islands 780 people.

Health human resources in Riau Islands who have been injected with the second dose of vaccine reached 14,998 people or 91.8 percent, spread across Tanjungpinang 2,539 people, Batam 6,569 people, Bintan 1,396 people, Karimun 1,719 people, Natuna 1,046 people, Anambas 748 people, and Lingga 981 people.

"Public officials who have been injected with the first dose of vaccine are 12,817 people or 28.2 percent," he said.

Public officers in Riau Islands who have been injected with the first dose of vaccine consist of Tanjungpinang 3,755 people, Batam 5,830 people, Bintan 1,073 people, Karimun 1,255 people, Anambas 162 people, Natuna 236 people, and Lingga 506 people.

Public officers in Riau Islands who have received the second dose of vaccination consist of Tanjungpinang 1,360 people, Batam 492 people, Bintan 254 people, Karimun 214 people, Anambas 31 people, Natuna 28 people, and Lingga 384 people.