"This morning, we offered revaccinations to the victims of fake vaccines, whose data have been collected and traced by the Polices Criminal Investigation Department, community health center, and the Health Ministry," President Jokowi stated at the Ciracas community health center located in eastern Jakarta, here, Monday.
A total of 167 infants in Ciracas and the surrounding areas had received fake vaccines, and so far, only 36 of them have been revaccinated.
Revaccinations will be conducted in stages until all the victims are covered.
"So, indeed, it is carried out in stages. Today and tomorrow (more infants) will be invited, and later again, until (all infants) in the data are covered," the head of state emphasized.
Jokowi visited the health center to ensure that the public received accurate information from the health center, Health Ministry, and the Jakarta health office.
The head of state has called on the public to stay calm as the investigation into the cases of fake vaccines would take time and should be carried out carefully.
Earlier, Jokowi had said that the production, distribution, and marketing of fake vaccines is an extraordinary crime, and therefore, the perpetrators must be given stringent punishment.
"This is an extraordinary crime. If our children are not vaccinated, it will have long-term ill effects on our human resources," the president noted, adding that the practice had been rampant for 12 years, thus it must be thoroughly investigated.
"I also want that those involved in this crime --- who produce, distribute, and market the fake vaccines --- be given tough punishment to serve as a deterrent," the president stated.
On Friday (July 15), the Health Ministry had summoned the management of all 14 hospitals that had received the fake vaccines.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
