"I inform you, Mr. Vice President, that Central Java’s residents are scrambling for vaccines. The city mayors and district heads all want to be vaccinated," Pranowo stated.
Central Java, as one of the most populous provinces in Indonesia, also recorded one of the highest COVID-19 positive cases and deaths. Despite this, vaccine coverage in Central Java Province is still low due to limited vaccine dosages allocated for the region, Pranowo remarked.
"Recipients of the first vaccine dosage in Central Java constitute only 16.16 percent (of the total population), and only 8.28 percent received the second vaccine shot," Pranowo pointed out.
Related news: Governor asks military, police to help enforce lockdown in C Java
The governor also drew attention to the sufficient number of vaccinators for the province, with support available from health care workers, student volunteers, as well as the police and military doctors.
"We have sufficient number of vaccinators because the administration process was quick and easy. Health care workers, university student volunteers, and the police and military doctors are all ready to support the inoculation process," Pranowo remarked.
Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin has also been committed to allocating more vaccine doses for Central Java Province at the end of July. He stated that the national vaccine stocks would be normal by August after a shortage occurred in July.
"We have received 570 thousand dosages of Sinovac vaccines on July 19 and then 30 thousand dosages of AstraZeneca vaccines on July 22. We will also receive 275 thousand dosages of AstraZeneca vaccines on July 26, and around 500 thousand additional vaccine dosages may also arrive the next week," Minister Sadikin revealed.
Vice President Amin has encouraged the Central Java authority to reinforce the upstream capacity during their COVID-19 handling process. He also requested the province's COVID-19 handling committee to pay attention to densely populated areas and boarding schools.
"I also call on the handling committee to pay attention to densely populated areas, such as boarding schools, (as they ought) to be given extra attention with regard to the implementation of health protocols, 3T (testing, tracing, treatment), and vaccination," Amin stated. Related news: Central Java hospitals' occupancy rates reach precarious levels
Translator: Fransiska N, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Suharto
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