Journalists are highly vulnerable to contracting COVID-19 so they have been given priority in vaccination.
Surabaya, E Java (ANTARA) - East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa observed as hundreds of journalists received their second COVID-19 shots at the Binaloka room in the East Java governor's office complex in Surabaya on Saturday.



"Journalists are highly vulnerable to contracting COVID-19 so they have been given priority in vaccination," she stated.



She said the East Java provincial administration has received a special allocation of vaccines from the Health Ministry in addition to the vaccines meant for district and city governments.



"The first batch of vaccines from the Health Ministry has been distributed to districts and cities. The provincial government has received a special (allocation of vaccines) so that it can vaccinate people from different professions who stay on the frontline or are at the highest risk of contracting COVID-19," she elaborated.



Even after receiving the second vaccine dose, journalists must continue to follow health protocols, including wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, avoiding crowds and washing hands with soap and running water, she advised.



Journalists are among the groups that have been accorded priority in the national vaccination program.



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



He had 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 had stated while referring to the inoculation of journalists at the Senayan Basket Hall at the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Stadium in Jakarta last month. (INE)


Related news: Pandjaitan to visit North Maluku's marine and fisheries center

Related news: Visitor influx exerting massive pressure on Borobudur structure

EDITED BY INE



Translator: Fiqih A/Hanif N/Suharto
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2021