We have already administered the first vaccines for 21.3 percent of Balikpapan’s residents, and 10 percent of the residents have already taken their second vaccine jabsBalikpapan (ANTARA) - Regional governments should maximise the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in their regions instead of stockpiling them, according to Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Muhadjir Effendy.
"All existing stocks allocated for the first phase of the vaccination drive should be distributed in their entirety as ordered by the president," Minister Effendy remarked during a visit to the Sepinggan Baru public health centre (Puskesmas) here on Monday.
The minister also noted that in spite of two vaccine doses mandated for recipients of the Sinovac vaccine within a 14-day interval for maximum efficacy, the first jab for the recipients is sufficient for the near future whilst awaiting the second vaccine shot.
Effendy said that no vaccines should be stockpiled for the second phase, as new vaccines allocated for that phase would soon be available.
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Apart from visiting Sepinggan Baru Puskesmas, the minister also paid a visit to the Balikpapan Municipal Pharmacy and Health Supply Installation office where COVID-19 vaccines and medicines for the city are stored.
"We have already administered the first vaccines for 21.3 percent of Balikpapan’s residents, and 10 percent of the residents have already taken their second vaccine jabs," Balikpapan Health Office Head Dr Andi Sri Juliarty revealed.
Juliarty called to expedite vaccination drives in the city with the available support from the military and the police doctors as well as other competent institutions.
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"The speed of vaccination depends on vaccine supplies, and as of Wednesday, tomorrow (July 27), the entire vaccine stocks stored at the Health Supply Installation office would be exhausted for a vaccination drive in the Dome (Balikpapan Sport and Convention Centre) for 610 residents," Juliarty said.
A request for the central government to supply new medicines would be made by the coordinating minister after observing the remaining stock of Oseltamivir medicine of only 80 tablets and the remaining stock of Fapiravir of only 300 tablets.
Juliarty noted that the antiviral medicines and vitamins are essential for treating COVID-19 patients with various symptoms, especially asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic ones that are self-isolating at their homes.
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Translator: Novi Abdi, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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