Governor Syamsuar Accelerates COVID-19 Vaccination in Riau After Receiving Additional 40,000 Doses

Governor of Riau Province Syamsuar (Photo: ANTARA)

RIAU - Riau Province Governor, Syamsuar, said his region would receive another 40,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine. With this submission, Syamsuar hopes that vaccination to the community will be accelerated to create herd immunity.

"Previously there was a problem in Riau because the vaccine was limited but President Jokowi had already answered it because earlier there were other governors who asked about the limited vaccine", he told reporters at the Riau Province Regional Building, in Pekanbaru.

He said Riau is one of the provinces whose vaccine stocks are also limited because the government prioritizes vaccination in Java and Bali.

This means, he said, where the COVID-19 transmission rate is high, that's where the vaccination will be increased.

"I have received a report from the Riau Provincial Health Office that Riau will receive another 40,000 doses of vaccine", he said.

Therefore, he said, the Riau Provincial Government has agreed with the Regional leadership coordination forum, especially the Mayor of Pekanbaru, that vaccination will be increased in Pekanbaru because now many Pekanbaru City residents are exposed to COVID-19.

He added, according to President Jokowi's direction at a virtual coordination meeting with the President and Vice President at the Riau Regional Building, last Monday that Riau Province was not included in the Emergency Restrictions on Community Activities (PPKM), such as referring to the emergency level set nationally, and Riau Province not at the emergency level four.

However, all parties are reminded to remain vigilant and adhere to health protocols properly so that there is no drastic increase in positive cases of COVID-19, said Syamsuar.