In fact, we have allocated 150 (doses of the vaccine) for journalists in Kupang City
Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) - Some 138 journalists in the East Nusa Tenggara provincial capital of Kupang were administered the first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine on Friday.

Chief of the Health Service Section at the East Nusa Tenggara Provincial Health Office Emma Simanjuntak confirmed that the office had readied 150 doses of COVID-19 vaccine for journalists.

"In fact, we have allocated 150 (doses of the vaccine) for journalists in Kupang City," he remarked.

The vaccination of 138 journalists was segregated into two batches, with the first batch comprising 75 journalists, while the second batch contained 63 journalists. The first phase of vaccination was conducted from 8:00 to 12:00 WITA (Central Indonesia Time), while the second phase commenced from 13:00 WITA.

The vaccination of journalists was conducted after the provincial government coordinated with several journalist organizations in the city, including the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI), Indonesian Television Journalists Association (IJTI), and Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) of the province chapters.

Journalists are among those accorded priority in the national vaccination program.

During the peak commemoration of National Press Day at the State Palace in Jakarta on February 9, 2021, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) pledged to prioritize the vaccination of journalists.

Jokowi highlighted the need for journalists to receive the COVID-19 vaccination on account of their regular interactions with people, especially informants, during the course of their duties.

"As I have pledged during the commemoration of National Press Day, we want to prioritize journalists to get vaccinated. Alhamdulillah (thank God), the vaccination of 5,500 journalists has begun and run smoothly. We hope (the vaccination) will protect journalists, who frequently interact with the public and informants (from being exposed to the coronavirus)," the president stated while referring to the vaccination of journalists at the Senayan Basket Hall at the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Stadium in Jakarta last month.

Related news: Military readies 102 health facilities for COVID-19 vaccination
Related news: 1,800 Social Affairs Ministry civil servants get COVID-19 vaccination
Related news: Widodo reviews vaccination of ulemas, students in Central Java

Translator: Kornelis Kaha/Suharto
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2021