The Constraints on Equitable Vaccination

Kompas/Priyombodo

A vaccinator prepares the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at a precision vaccine booth by the National Police in front of the Ramayana shopping center, Ciledug, Tangerang City, Banten, Tuesday (3/8/2021).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — COVID-19 vaccines should definitely be distributed to outlying parts of the country. The aim of vaccination in the control of the pandemic will only be achieved if it extensively covers the public at large within a short time. However, equitable vaccine distribution is constrained by limited supply and hoaxes.

The acceleration of vaccinations is required to minimize the risk of worsening conditions among patients. According to a report from the national COVID-19 task force on Thursday (5/8/2021), the death toll due to COVID-19 had increased by 1,739 people from the day prior, bringing the total to 102,375 deaths. Daily confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 39,726, bringing the total to 3.56 million cases.

Siti Nadia Tarmizi, the Health Ministry spokesperson for COVID-19 vaccination, said in Jakarta on Thursday that collaboration with various parties, including the private sector, could accelerate the equitable coverage of vaccinations. Coordination in vaccine distribution between health offices, the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police needs to be intensified.

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“We are increasing the number of vaccination stations or centers in major cities, as well as disadvantaged, far-flung and interior regions of Indonesia,” she added.

Nonetheless, vaccination acceleration is constrained by limited vaccine supply, including in East Nusa Tenggara province. Meanwhile, the Cirebon regency administration, West Java, has set a target of inoculating 3,000 children aged 12-17 next week but its vaccine supply is inadequate.

Vaccination coverage in Greater Surakarta, Central Jakarta, remains uneven. Surakarta city has achieved the broadest vaccination coverage compared with to the other six areas.

“We will make it to 10,000 doses [per day],” Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said in Surakarta.

KOMPAS/ADITYA PUTRA PERDANA

A vaccinator injects a vaccine to a student at the Al Ishlah Islamic Boarding School, Semarang City, Central Java, Monday (2/8/2021).

Additionally, vaccination in urban areas and interior regions are being constrained by misinformation and hoaxes about the negative impacts of COVID-19 vaccines. As a result, the realization of COVID-19 vaccination in Papua is only 14 percent.

Jayawijaya Health Agency head Willy Mambieuw said the hoaxes circulating among the local people had led to low participation in the vaccination drive. Vaccination coverage in Jayawijaya is low, with vaccination for children aged 12-17 yet to be carried out.

Three channels

According to Nadia, vaccination strategies in remote regions and small cities are different. In major cities, vaccination is conducted through cooperation with the private sector in the opening of vaccination centers.

Cooperation can be arranged with religious, social and alumni organizations.

The Health Ministry distributes vaccines through three channels, namely provincial health agencies, the TNI and the National Police. Provincial health agencies distribute vaccines to regency/city health offices and to health service facilities.

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By 5 August 2021, 22.8 million had received their second dose of the vaccine, according to the Health Ministry. This is only 10 percent of the target of vaccinating 208.2 million people.

COVID-19 task force spokesman Wiku Adisasmito said the government would continue to its vaccination drive while ascertaining the sufficiency of vaccine stocks. People who do not have a resident’s identity number (NIK) can still secure COVID-19 vaccines.

An internist at the University of Indonesia’s School of Medicine, Dirga Sakti Rambe, said third-dose COVID-19 vaccines had only been given to a group of health workers most vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. Although antibodies decline after six months, vaccines remain effective in providing protection. Vaccination should focus on the broadening of coverage.

“Vaccination will not be optimally beneficial if we get three or more shots while the people around us are not yet inoculated,” he added.

(VDL/KOR/FLO/NCA/COK/IKI/ITA/VDL/TAN)

This article was translated by Aris Prawira