Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Central Committee (PP) of Muhammadiyah has urged the Indonesian public to join the vaccination movement, which is being carried out intensively, to collectively fight the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

"This vaccine has been medically tested. With the vaccine, the degree of immunity can be measured. So, to the Indonesian people, (I would urge) get vaccinated immediately, if there is a schedule, and make it an effort to save our lives," head of Muhammadiyah Office, Zainuddin, said in Jakarta on Tuesday.

PP Muhammadiyah is vaccinating 450 people, comprising leaders and administrators from assemblies, institutions, and autonomous institutions, within the mass organization.

The two-day vaccine campaign is being held on March 9 and March 10, 2021. Apart from Jakarta, Muhammadiyah has organized a similar campaign targeting 500 participants in Yogyakarta.

A total of 450 participants registered for the two-day campaign on March 9 and 10, Zainuddin informed.

“This (campaign) is also being held at PP Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta. In Yogya, the number was 500, so a total of 950 participants (took part in the drive),” he said.

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To avoid crowding, the committee has divided vaccine recipients into several groups of 50 people and called them by turns, from morning to afternoon to evening.

Zainuddin said he expects the vaccination program carried out in Muhammadiyah to further allay fears among the ummah about getting vaccinated.

Moreover, the vaccines given have gone through clinical trials and have been certified as halal, he added.

“Hopefully, this will become an example for Muhammadiyah members throughout the country. That the efforts to save the people by vaccination can be emulated. God Willing, this vaccine will bring health benefits for the community," Zainuddin remarked.

The vaccine campaign is being directly reviewed by the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (PMK), Muhadjir Effendy, he informed.

Muhadjir is reviewing the flow of the vaccine campaign, from the stage of registration, blood pressure checks, to the process of administering the vaccine, he added.

The Coordinating Minister has also been occasionally interacting with administrators who have been vaccinated.

The minister has said he wants to ensure that the COVID-19 vaccination is right on target. According to him, the vaccination process for the community must comply with predetermined criteria.

"This is part of community vaccination so it involves Muhammadiyah members according to the predetermined criteria, namely those who are elderly from Muhammadiyah members. Then Muhammadiyah members who have been doing public services; there are teachers, lecturers, preachers, and administrators," Effendy said.

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Translator: Asep F, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Sri Haryati
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