COVID-19 Vaccine Becomes A Requirement To Enter Malls, Ganjar Pranowo: It's Not Fair, Many People Haven't Been Vaccinated

Ganjar Pranowo while monitoring the implementation of health protocols in a mall in Semarang City. (Antara/HO-Humas Central Java Provincial Government)

JAKARTA - Central Java (Central Java) Governor Ganjar Pranowo assessed that the requirement for visitors to enter modern shopping centers or malls was to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as unfair.

"Actually, the regulation is not fair, because there are still many people who have not been vaccinated until now, the government's task now is to immediately prepare more vaccines in order to speed things up," he said in Semarang, as quoted by Antara, Wednesday, August 11.

Ganjar admitted that he continues to make efforts to accelerate vaccination in Central Java by asking for additional vaccine allocations from the central government.

To meet the vaccination target for completion in December 2021, Ganjar continued, Central Java needs 2.4 million vaccines per week, but vaccine shipments from the central government to date are only 600 thousand to 700 thousand.

With the allocation of more vaccines for Central Java, Ganjar hopes that more people will be able to carry out normal activities, including visiting malls.

"And they can also have the same opportunities and access as those who have been vaccinated. Don't make any distinctions," he said.

Nevertheless, he asked the public to be patient for a while, because the opening of malls is currently only a trial phase in several cities in Indonesia.

"This is just a trial, so we have to accept this condition first. Whatever happens, the government has a strong desire to help improve the economy and people can return to their activities," he said.

Previously, the Central Java Provincial Government had not planned to make a COVID-19 vaccine certificate as one of the requirements for people to travel.

"No, we haven't gotten there yet. If everyone has to use vaccine requirements, while vaccinations are not high, then I think it's unfair. Wong hasn't been vaccinated, only a few have been vaccinated," said Ganjar last Monday.

According to Ganjar, it is not appropriate to allow people who have been vaccinated to travel because it injures the sense of justice in society.

"Then it's as if those who have been vaccinated get the first priority for klayapan, it's not good for us to be with the people," he concluded.