"Teachers must be 100 percent vaccinated, sir," the president told the headmaster.Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) laid specific emphasis on the importance of no teachers and educational workers being left unvaccinated.
"I just want to tell you that after the children are vaccinated, please check that teachers and school staff should not miss vaccination," Jokowi stated via video teleconference from the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday, while greeting junior high and high school students participating in vaccination.
President Jokowi explained that COVID-19 vaccination for students and teachers can expedite the realization of herd immunity in Indonesia.
"We want to encourage the acceleration of these vaccinations, so that herd immunity can soon be achieved, and we can avoid COVID-19," he emphasized.
During a virtual interaction with the headmaster of State Junior High School 103 Jakarta, Jokowi sought information on the realization of COVID-19 vaccination for teachers.
"What about the teachers? Have they been vaccinated?" he questioned.
Jokowi affirmed that all teachers should be administered the vaccine.
"Teachers must be 100-percent vaccinated, sir," the president told the headmaster.
"Alhamdulillah (Praise be to God), it is done. The ones who have not are those with comorbidities. The other ones are waiting for their blood sugar levels to be brought under control," the headmaster said.
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On the occasion, Jokowi greeted the students and the public that had received vaccines through the door-to-door method.
On Wednesday, student and door-to-door vaccinations were held simultaneously at 32 locations spread across 15 districts and cities and 14 provinces.
The president sought details from students regarding the online learning situation. He also reminded the students to continually implement health protocols despite having received the COVID-19 vaccine.
"Be careful, maintain your distance, wear mask, and do not crowd. Keep up the spirit and keep learning," Jokowi told Vania, one of the students of State Junior High School 103 Jakarta.
The president also interacted with students of the Tanjung Pinang State High School 1 of Riau Islands, Sentani State High School 1 of Papua, teachers, and the public that were vaccinated through the door-to-door method.
"The pandemic is still ongoing. Indeed, the plan to study face-to-face was set for July 2021, but due to the increase in the number of COVID-19 virus cases, the plan has been postponed," President Jokowi remarked.
"I heard the students already want to go back to school for face-to-face learning, want to meet their friends, want to learn in groups, and want to meet the teachers. All yearn for it, but we must be careful since COVID-19 transmission is still ongoing," he stated.
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Translator: Indra Arief Pribadi, Kenzu Ta
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
