Getting inoculated cannot turn us into Superman.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has appealed to the public to continue observing health protocols even after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Getting inoculated cannot turn us into Superman,” he remarked during the inauguration of Awakening Indonesia’s Vaccination Center in Depok, West Java on Thursday.

Carefully maintaining a safe distance, wearing masks, avoiding crowds, and washing hands continue to remain important as coronavirus vaccines cannot guarantee recipients won’t get infected, he pointed out.

In fact, the health protocols are aimed at reducing the risks of contracting the virus, he added.

He also called on people who have not been administered the vaccine yet to be patient as Indonesia expects to receive just 24 percent of vaccine doses by the middle of 2021. The remaining vaccine doses will become available in the second semester of this year.

Starting July, 2021, the public vaccination program will be further expanded and expedited, he pointed out.

The public is also requested to understand that the vaccine supply is currently limited and this has led to the government prioritizing at-risk groups, such as senior citizens and health workers, he said.

Sadikin warmly welcomed the setting up of a vaccination center in Depok and expressed the hope that it would help accelerate the building up of herd immunity as a defensive shield against COVID-19.

Based on data provided by the COVID-19 task force, as of Wednesday (March 24, 2021), a total of 5,978,251 people, including public service workers and senior citizens, have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in the country.

As many as 246,041 additional people have received their first vaccine dose compared to Tuesday (March 23). Meanwhile, another 215,123 people have been administered their second shot, taking the total number to 2,709,545.

In other words, 14.81 percent of the 40,349, 051 targeted recipients have received their first dose in the first and second stage of the vaccination program. Meanwhile, 6.71 percent of people have received their second vaccine dose. (INE)


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Translator: Juwita Trisna Rahayu
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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