My brothers and sisters of the nation, at 9:42 a.m. local time this morning, I, as an Indonesian citizen, have initiated a huge effort to become free of the pandemic by receiving the COVID-19 vaccine shotJakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) affirmed that the COVID-19 vaccination was an endeavor for Indonesia to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
"My brothers and sisters of the nation, at 9:42 a.m. local time this morning, I, as an Indonesian citizen, have initiated a huge effort to become free of the pandemic by receiving the COVID-19 vaccine shot," Jokowi stated on his Instagram account on Wednesday.
The president received his first COVID-19 vaccine shot at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday.
The Sinovac vaccine was injected by Deputy Chief of the Presidential medical team Prof. Abdul Muthalib.
The head of state spoke of his vital signs being checked before the vaccine was injected into his left arm.
"My blood pressure reading came out to be 130/67 mmHg. Normal. I was asked whether I have had tested positive for COVID-19, experienced cough and flu in the past few days, or whether I have heart disease or other ailments, including those related to the kidney. I answered 'no' to all the questions," Jokowi revealed.
The nation has long awaited the vaccine that will be injected to eligible people after receiving the emergency-use authorization from the Food and Drug Control Agency (BPOM) and being declared as halal by the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI), the president remarked.
Jokowi is upbeat about the mass vaccination program in the country running smoothly.
"I am optimistic that the COVID-19 vaccination, begun today, would run smoothly," he stated.
After receiving his first COVID-19 vaccine shot, Jokowi had to wait for 30 minutes to check for any possible side-effects of the vaccine.
Other prominent figures that received their first vaccine shot are Head of the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) Daeng M. Faqih, Secretary General of MUI Amiesyah Tambunan, KH Ahmad Ishomuddin from the Nahdlatul Ulama advisory council, TNI Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, Police Chief Gen. Idham Azis, and celebrity Raffi Ahmad.
The vaccine was also administered to Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, BPOM Chief Penny Kusumastuti, Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) Rosan Roeslani Perkasa, Secretary General of the Indonesian Midwives Association Ade Zubaedah, nurse Nur Fauzah, spokesperson of the COVID-19 handling task force Wiku Adisasmito, and spokesperson of COVID-19 vaccination Reisa Broto Asmoro.
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Translator: Desca L Natalia, Sri Haryati
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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