Fulfilling the Pledge to Execute Vaccination

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Medical officers prepare the Covid-19 vaccine which will be injected into teachers at RSGM Soelastri, Surakarta, Central Java, Monday (8/3/2021).

It is indeed heartening to observe the public enthusiasm for vaccination against Covid-19. This is the government’s opportunity to provide the best it can offer to the people.

In various health facilities, residents are thronging to get jabs. According to Siti Nadia Tarmizi, a Health Ministry spokesperson for Covid-19 vaccination, as of Friday (5/3/2021) 2.4 million Indonesian people had received first-dose inoculations (Kompas, 7/3/2021).

Seven million vaccine doses have been distributed and three million more are being delivered. Of the total, around 70 percent is focused on Java and Bali.

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In fact, compared with India, which has managed to vaccinate one million people per day, Indonesia still lags far behind. However, in the Southeast Asian region the vaccination coverage in Indonesia is only behind that in Singapore, a country far smaller in size and population.

Therefore, the good response shown by citizens should serve as positive momentum. It’s not just a matter of speedily achieving the target of herd immunity and freedom from the pandemic, but it’s of the utmost importance to again rally people’s hopes that by working together we are capable of rising from tribulation.

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Experience has indicated that with the vaccination progressing for almost two months now, we are able to organize a program that involves the masses and is simultaneously executed, while complying with health protocols. This serves as an asset to enable the realization of the herd immunity target. To this end, at least 181.5 million people will have to be vaccinated. With 2.4 million already receiving first-phase inoculations, 179.1 million others are yet to be vaccinated. It’s not simple, but it’s not impossible either to accomplish.

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

Public transport drivers fill out a form before undergoing Covid-19 vaccination at Bunder Terminal, Gresik Regency, East Java, Monday (8/3/2021).

The government has actually cooperated with various private sectors for smoother program implementation, but the Indian government’s attempt to involve private health facilities—despite the cost incurred—can be taken into consideration.

On the other hand, the capability should certainly also go along with socialization and information, simplified registration, vaccine distribution arrangements and equitable allocations as far as even the most isolated region. At present, although on paper around 329 million vaccine doses can be obtained by the Indonesian government, the real total is still far from sufficient. For this reason, the government should wisely determine priority recipients.

The public should also trust the government that the time will time for vaccination. While waiting for their turns, people should maintain good health, consume nutritious food and get enough rest. In this way, when they get their turns to be inoculated, its side effects can be minimized.

Also read: Vaccines for the Entire Indonesian Population

We feel grateful to have the National Commission for Post-Immunization Adverse Events (Komnas KIPI). It will be favorable if Komnas KIPI also provides a hotline to facilitate public communication in the case of any relevant problem.

Hopefully the pandemic can accordingly be overcome soon. Yet what is more important is that the Indonesian nation has regained its trust: the social capital to create welfare.

This article was translated by Aris Prawira