"We are targeting vaccinations for children aged 12 to 17 years, and currently we are in the data collection process," chief of Maluku Regional Police, Inspector General Refdi Andri, informed while reviewing the 'Precision Vaccination on Campus' event in Ambon City on Friday.
The vaccination program, which was held in collaboration with the Indonesian National Student Movement (GMNI) Ambon Board, took place at the Auditorium of Pattimura University (Unpatti) Ambon.
Earlier, Andri also monitored vaccinations at the Ambon State Polytechnic Campus Auditorium, organized in collaboration with the Board of Maluku Indonesian Muslim Student Movement (PMII).
Regional police are also coordinating with regional governments and heads of health offices in all districts and cities so that all existing community health centers (Puskesmas) can carry out vaccinations, he said.
Aside from accelerating vaccinations, tightening health protocols is also crucial for preventing the transmission of COVID-19, Andri pointed out.
He said he hoped that the mass vaccination campaigns for communities, which all stakeholders are promoting, would help the government achieve the national vaccination target by December 18, 2021.
"We will also use Maluku Regional Police's ships in order to reach people in remote areas," he said.
Andri also asked residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 to self-isolate at the facilities provided by the government since they can potentially infect their families and surrounding communities if they self-isolate at home.
In a bid to achieve herd immunity, the Indonesian government launched nationwide vaccinations on January 13, 2021. President Joko Widodo was the first to be vaccinated under the program.
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Translator: Daniel Leonard, Raka Adji
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
