This group of older people should be prioritized since they are susceptible to contracting the virus
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Some elderly Indonesians aged 60 years and above will get inoculated in the second phase of the vaccination program, starting in mid-February of 2021.

"This group of older people should be prioritized since they are susceptible to contracting the virus," Acting Director General of Disease Prevention and Control (P2P) of the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) Dr Maxi Rein Rondonuwu stated during an online discussion here on Monday.

Apart from the 21 million elderly, the government will also vaccinate 17 million officers or workers in the public service sector.

Up until now, some 1,080,000 health workers have received vaccinations.

"We can see that until now, almost no serious side-effects or incidents were reported following the implementation of the immunization program," he pointed out.

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The government has decided that the second phase of vaccination will commence on February 17, 2021, with the first target being traders in the Tanah Abang Market in Jakarta.

This step simultaneously expands the scope of the vaccination program to achieve the expected target to develop herd immunity.

On account of the large coverage of the second phase of vaccination, the government will conduct it in stages, starting in the seven priority provinces spread across Java and Bali.

The seven provinces are those considered as red zones for having the highest number of COVID-19 patients.

"Some 70 percent of Indonesia's COVID-19 cases are in Java and Bali. Hence, they will be accorded priority," he stated.

Densely populated regions will next be prioritized, while the other 30 percent will be distributed to several other regions.

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Translator: M Zulfikar, Fardah
Editor: Sri Haryati
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