Kupang (ANTARA) - As many as 6,600 health workers in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) will get a COVID-19 vaccine shot as part of the first phase of the immunization program, according to the local public health office.

"Later, this vaccination program will be divided into two, and there will be some 6,600 health workers who will get these vaccines," said Emma Simanjuntak, head of the health services division at the NTT Public Health Office.

Simanjuntak made the statement while receiving a consignment of seven boxes containing 13,200 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at the El Tari Airport complex in Kupang on Tuesday.

She said that the 6,600 targeted health workers are spread across 378 health centers, 10 public hospitals, two private hospitals, and some private clinics in the province.

Related news: Sinovac's 13,000 vaccine doses to arrive in East Nusa Tenggara

After health workers, NTT’s next target for the vaccination program will be public service officers, including soldiers (TNI), police officers, personnel of the Civil Service Police Unit, as well as residents in the 18-59 age group, Simanjuntak informed.

The assignment of priorities in the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccine program is based on epidemiological studies, she added.

On Tuesday morning (January 5, 2021), about 13,200 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine made by Sinovac, a Chinese pharmaceutical company, arrived at the El Tari Airport in Kupang.

Security officers from the TNI-Polri team will closely guard the vaccine supplies for East Nusa Tenggara province.

The vaccines, which are being stored in the pharmacy warehouse of the NTT Public Health Office, will be distributed to 22 districts/cities in the province.

Related news: Indonesia's first phase of COVID-19 vaccination takes 15 months: govt







Translator: Kornelis Kaha, Yuni Arisandy
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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