Minister Of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin Suggests Vaccination Centers To Be Available In Malls

Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin in South Tangerang inspected the elderly vaccination center, Wednesday (2/6/2021). (ANTARA/Livia Kristianti)

JAKARTA - Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin proposed that vaccination centers could be available in large malls to facilitate the acceleration of the delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The proposal is considered to make it easier for the public to know where the COVID-19 vaccine will be given so that they are interested in receiving vaccine injections.

"There are many potential community activities that are attended by many and we can combine them with the vaccination program. For example, shopping at malls. People like shopping at malls, so we work together to hold vaccinations", said Budi in an interview with reporters in South Tangerang, reported by Antara, Wednesday, June 2.

He gave an example, for example, in the South Tangerang area, there are three areas that have the potential for malls to be used as vaccination sites.

The three areas are BSD (Bumi Serpong Damai), Alam Sutra, and Bintaro, which are expected to can participate in the process of accelerating the delivery of COVID-19 vaccination to the people of Indonesia.

"Mr. (South Tangerang Mayor) owns Alam Sutra, Bintaro, and BSD. It may be necessary to ask the developer to do some social work for the citizens. Every now and then (the residents) are given a place for free vaccinations", said Budi.

He also gave an example of other activities that could be collaborated with vaccination programs, such as travel by plane.

He took the example for Angkasa Pura II Cengkareng Airport by having the number of daily arrivals reaching 10.000.

"It can be made a rather large quad (for vaccination), it can be around 5000 people in a day (get the COVID-19 vaccine)", said Budi.

Budi said the collaboration of many parties with the government is urgently needed to accelerate the target of providing COVID-19 vaccines in Indonesia.

Currently, there are 27 million vaccines distributed from the target of 360 million doses targeted for distribution.

It is hoped that 180 million Indonesians will be able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in December 2021 from the initial target of March 2022.