Private Vaccinations Carried Out alongside Government’s Program

KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO

A teacher undergoes a health check before getting a Covid-19 vaccine shot during a vaccinations for high school teachers at SMAN 70 Jakarta on Wednesday. The event was attended by 600 teachers and education staff. The vaccination program has come to the second batch, targeting elderly people and those employed in the public sector, such as market vendors, educators (teachers, lecturers), religious leaders, lawmakers, government officials and state institutions. (These captions were translated by Kurniawan Siswoko).

The private vaccination scheme has been designed not to interfere with government vaccinations. In order to anticipate adverse events following immunization (AEFI), potential vaccine recipients must fill out the screening form honestly.

The government has provided a legal umbrella for the implementation of the private vaccination scheme, the Gotong Royong Vaccination Program. This policy needs to be carried out with cautiousness so as not to interfere with the government’s current vaccination program.

Also read: Vaccination of Media Workers Started

According to Health Ministerial Regulation No. 10/2021 concerning the implementation of vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic – signed by Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin on February 24, 2021 – the types of vaccines used in the Gotong Royong Program must be separate from the vaccines used for the government’s program. This is intended to prevent the government’s vaccines from being used for the Gotong Royong Program.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

A health worker prepares vaccines during the mass Covid-19 vaccination for media workers at Basket Hall, Bung Karno Stadium complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Thursday (25/2/2021). On the first day of the vaccination, the event was attended by over 1,000 media workers from various press companies. The mass vaccination for media will run until Saturday (27/2/2021), targeting 5,500 media workers. The Covid-19 vaccine is expected to protect the media workers from risk of Covid-19 transmission. (These captions were translated by Kurniawan Siswoko).

Health Ministry COVID-19 vaccination spokesperson Siti Nadia Tarmizi, Friday (26/2/2021) in Jakarta, said that the Gotong Royong Program is being carried out to accelerate vaccinations across the country to reach the target and achieve herd immunity. “The Gotong Royong Vaccinations will not interfere with the government’s free vaccination program. All citizens are still entitled to the vaccines provided by the government,” she said.

Funding for this program will be borne by the companies who have signed up for the program.

According to Nadia, the Gotong Royong Program will target employees and their family members. Funding for this program will be borne by the companies who have signed up for the program. Thus, all recipients of the Gotong Royong Program will not be charged.

Also read: Vaccine-induced and Natural Immunity

The State-Owned Enterprises Ministry and PT Bio Farma have been appointed to be in charge of the Gotong Royong Program. Only PT Bio Farma has been permitted to import the vaccines for the program.

Moreover, the Gotong Royong Vaccinations will only be carried out in private health facilities.

Kompas/Priyombodo

A health worker prepares vaccines during the mass Covid-19 vaccination for public service officers, journalists and teachers at the city administration office in Tangerang, Banten, on Friday (26/2/2021). The Tangerang Municipality targeted 26,000 people to get vaccine shots within four days. (These captions were translated by Kurniawan Siswoko).

PT Bio Farma COVID-19 vaccination spokesperson Bambang Heryanto added that his party had already explored a number of vaccine options according to availability. One of which is the vaccine developed by Chinese state-owned company Sinopharm. “We are also exploring a cooperation with Moderna from the United States,” he said.

Anticipating AEFIs

The second phase of the national vaccination drive continues for public service workers, including market traders, media workers and athletes. The second day of mass vaccinations for media workers in the Gelora Bung Karno area, Jakarta, went well. Several adverse effects following immunization (AEFI) incidents that emerged were also handled immediately.

However, they have returned to their homes and are in good health.

Nadia said that reports of dozens of journalists collapsing after being inoculated were false. According to her, there were indeed five media crews who had complained of side effects after getting vaccinated. However, they have returned to their homes and are in good health.

Also read: Indonesia Calls for Equal Access to Vaccines

In order to anticipate unwanted AEFIs, AEFI National Commission chairman Hindra Irawan Satari said that potential vaccine recipients have to fill out the screening forms with honesty.

One cannot be vaccinated or should have their vaccination postponed, if, among other things, one has a history of severe allergies, such as shortness of breath; chronic diseases, such as heart and kidney problems; and is currently in treatment for blood clotting disorders and immune deficiency.

KOMPAS/ADRIAN FAJRIANSYAH

This is a situation during Covid-19 vaccination at Istora Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday (26/2/2021). Athletes participated in the campaign on the importance of vaccination. The athletes have not experienced any negative effects after getting a vaccine shot. They are happy to receive the vaccine because it increases immunity and confidence for training and competition. They hope the vaccination marks a start for the recovery of sports in Indonesia, mainly for national competition. (These captions were translated by Kurniawan Siswoko).

Yesterday, vaccinations were also being carried out for athletes, coaches and supporting staff. This event was attended by Vice President Ma’ruf Amin, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali and Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan.

(This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia).