Lots Of Stock, Minister Of Health Budi Encourages Areas Around Solo To Boost COVID-19 Vaccination

Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin accompanied by the Mayor of Solo, Gibran Rakabuming, inspects vaccinations at the Surakarta Palace Show (ANTARA)

SOLO - Minister of Health (Menkes) Budi Gunadi Sadikin asked the area around the city of Solo, Central Java to immediately increase vaccination achievements following the large availability of vaccines nationally.

"More than 200 million doses of vaccine have arrived, but only around 140 million doses have been vaccinated," he said on the sidelines of a visit to vaccination activities at the Surakarta Palace in Solo, Antara, Wednesday, September 29.

During the visit, the Minister of Health, Budi, was accompanied by the Mayor of Solo, Gibran Rakabuming Raka. According to the Minister of Health, there are around 60 million vaccine stocks that will be circulated in regencies and cities in Indonesia.

"It should be enough to be vaccinated. Usually, it really depends on the regional head, if the regional head is active and the community is active, it should run more smoothly," he said.

Regarding the achievement of vaccination in Solo and its surroundings, he said, so far it is quite good.

His party noted that until now the vaccination achievement in Solo City is 115 percent and the surrounding area is still in the range of 50 percent.

"But there are a lot of people from the city of Solo from outside (who took part in the vaccine, ed.). Even more than people who have a Solo ID card. So I also thank you because it has been opened to residents who don't have a Solo ID card, that's very important because it's only 50 percent agglomeration around Solo," he said.

He also appreciated the Surakarta Palace for helping to accelerate vaccination by organizing vaccination activities for palace relatives and the general public.

"Solo and its surroundings need more vaccinations, the President wants 70 percent in September. Indeed, the more important thing is the teachers, not all of the teachers are vaccinated, so that must be prioritized. If the children are generally affected it is very small, yes, even if they are infected, they are usually asymptomatic and no need to go to the hospital," he said.

Another effort made by the government to accelerate the achievement of vaccinations around Solo is to transfer part of the vaccine quota for Solo to other areas.

"Solo is already more, so we may give it to other districts or also give it to Solo but for non-Solo ID cards," he said.