New Hope from the Merdeka Palace

ISTIMEWA/BPMI SETPRES

Screenshot of the live broadcast of the first vaccination at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday (13/1/2021). President Joko Widodo followed the examination process before being vaccinated at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta.

Doctor Abdul Muthalib\'s hands were shaking as he thrust a syringe into the left arm of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday (13/1/2021). This was a marker for the start of the Covid-19 vaccination in Indonesia.

In a few seconds, the deputy presidential doctor injected a dose of CoronaVac, the Covid-19 vaccine made by pharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech, China, in collaboration with state-owned pharmaceutical company PT Bio Farma, into the arm of the President. The vaccine has acquired an emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) and is considered halal and holy by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI). "At first I was shaking, but when I injected it, I was no longer [shaking]," said Abdul Muttalib.

After the injection, the professor at the University of Indonesia’s School of Medicine immediately rubbed the President\'s arm with alcoholic cotton. He then asked the President what he felt when he was injected with the vaccine. "Nothing at all," said the President in response to the 75-year-old internal medicine specialist, as broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat YouTube channel.

Also read: Ensure the Efficacy of COVID-19 Vaccination Drive

The President said he was afraid when he saw the vaccinator\'s hands were shaking. "Yes, there was a little bit of fear because I also saw Prof. Abdul Muttalib tremble a little," said the President.

He believed the vaccinator was shaking a little because he was injecting the Covid-19 vaccine for the first time. The President just felt aches in his arm two hours after vaccination. "When I got the injection I didn\'t feel anything, but after two hours I felt a little ache," he said.

Getting on with business

As there was no reaction whatsoever, President Jokowi went straight back to his usual schedule. After being observed for 30 minutes, he participated in monitoring the inaugural vaccination on the front veranda of the Merdeka Palace. He also chatted with the vaccinators and other vaccination participants. Not long after the vaccination was completed, he met in a closed-door meeting with Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir.

Apart from blood pressure, the doctor was also asked about his medical history.

Before being vaccinated, the President underwent an examination of his health condition. Apart from blood pressure, the doctor was also asked about his medical history. Because he had no history of chronic disease, the President was allowed to participate in the vaccination.

ARSIP DINKES BANJARMASIN

Covid-19 vaccines produced by Chinese company Sinovac arrive in Banjarmasin city, South Kalimantan, on Tuesday (12/1/2021). In the first phase, the Banjarmasin City Health Office received 13,480 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Apart from the President, on the first day of vaccination, there were 24 people representing

various professions and groups, such as officials, religious leaders, teachers, doctors, nurses, and representatives of community groups, including millennials. They were divided into three sessions during the vaccination at the palace.

New history

This Covid-19 vaccination program marks an important moment in history for Indonesia. According to the spokesperson for the Health Ministry, Siti Nadia, 70 percent or 181.5 million of the approximately 260 million-strong Indonesian population will receive vaccines in an effort to create herd immunity. Herd immunity is expected to curb coronavirus infections thus controlling the Covid-19 pandemic.

Also read: MUI: Sinovac\'s Covid-19 Vaccine is Halal

Indonesia, added Nadia, as of 2021 requires 426 million doses of vaccines. The vaccines will be delivered throughout 2021. "It is hoped that by the end of December 2021, 181.5 million people will have received the vaccines," she said.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin hoped that Indonesia could complete the vaccination program in the shortest possible time. The longer the program takes to get underway, the longer it will take to complete. This will cause more casualties.

After the vaccination at the Merdeka Palace, vaccinations are planned for Thursday (14/1) in 18 provinces and the rest on Friday (15/1).

Not feeling anything

MUI secretary-general Amirsyah Tambunan, who also represented Muhammadiyah, said vaccination was one of the efforts of the people together with the government in implementing health protocols. "There are many efforts we can do, one of which is vaccination. Second, enforce the health protocols. With faith, it\'s safe, God willing, we are immune,” he said.

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

A health worker injects a fellow medical worker with a vaccine during a simulation for Covid-19 vaccination at Puskesmas Talun, in Cirebon regency, West Java, on Wednesday (6/1/2021). The first round of vaccinations in Cirebon will target around 8,009 medical workers.

The same was felt by Ahmad Ishomudin. He didn\'t feel any reaction. A cleric from Nahdlatul Ulama\'s central board (PBNU) even expressed his gratitude for getting the first turn of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Chairman of the Executive Board of the Indonesian Doctors Association Daeng M. Faqih said the vaccines had been declared safe, efficacious, effective, holy and halal so they could be used. "Let\'s carry out the vaccinations so that Covid-19 can finish well," he said after the vaccination.

Like the President, celebrity Raffi Ahmad also did not feel any aches when he was injected. Nagita Slavina\'s husband did not feel any reaction during the 30 minutes of observation. "After being vaccinated, it was normal. The vaccine was fine and there was no impact," he said.

"I feel more confident in facing the pandemic while maintaining the health protocols," said Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto when contacted after the vaccination.

From the start, Hadi saw the vaccines as a hope to win the "war" against Covid-19. The vaccines are one of the tools to escape the dangers of the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Also read: Regional Administrations Await Technical Instructions from Central Govt

After being vaccinated, National Police chief Gen. Idham Azis would also invite his staff to participate in the vaccination program without the slightest doubt.

According to him, vaccination is a positive opportunity to improve the health situation and at the same time the post-Covid-19 economy.

The same thing was felt by the chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), Rosan Perkasa, who participated in the initial vaccination. According to him, vaccination is a positive opportunity to improve the health situation and at the same time the post-Covid-19 economy. He believed the national economy could recover faster with free vaccinations for the community.

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

The community health center (Puskesmas) in Cilincing subdistrict, North Jakarta conducts a COVID-19 vaccination simulation on Tuesday (12/1/2021). The simulation includes registration, screening or health examinations, vaccination and post-vaccination observation. The observation lasts 30 minutes to see if there are any side effects after a person receives the vaccine. The government plans to begin the Covid-19 vaccination program on 13 Jan, 2021. President Joko Widodo will be the first person to be injected with the Covid-19 vaccine.

"Hopefully this pandemic will pass quickly. Hopefully everything goes well, back to normal," said Narti, who represented a vegetable trader at the Inpres Kelapa Gading Market after being vaccinated at the palace. (NTA/INA/EDN/AGE/HAR)

(This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo).