We are working together with 433 healthcare workers
Jakarta (ANTARA) - With the Merdeka vaccine program in West Jakarta garnering positive interest, the authorities are expecting everyone in the area to be vaccinated by August 17, when Indonesia marks its Independence Day, an official said.



"The trend always increases. Everyday, there can be participants influx ranging from one thousand up to five thousand people," West Jakarta Police Chief Senior Commissioner Ady Wibowo said here on Wednesday.



A total of 11,458 people were inoculated under the program on August 1, 2021, a total of 17,699 people were vaccinated on August 2, and 18,167 people on August 3, he informed.



Wibowo lauded the public for its enthusiasm and participation in the mass vaccination program.



This is a sign that the public has started to become aware of the importance of vaccinations during the pandemic, he observed.



Hundreds of healthcare workers are working together to vaccinate the public, he said.



"We are working together with 433 healthcare workers," he informed.



Earlier, the Jakarta Police Chief, Inspector General Fadil Imran, had said that 209 community units (RW) in West Jakarta had been prioritized under the Merdeka vaccine program given their low vaccination rate.


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As many as 209 vaccination centers were set up in each RW to counter COVID-19 spread and help people understand the need for herd immunity, he added.



"It means there are 209 spots where we are hosting vaccinations. We hope the spirit of Independence Day can serve as momentum for us to move together," Imran said in Kembangan, West Jakarta.



He also said that he had gotten a chance to supervise some vaccination centers and he was happy to see many people participate in the program.



"In RW 06, 960 (people) have not been vaccinated (but) they have registered, in other RWs there are 790. In total, there are more than 1,600," he said.



He said he expected the program would be effective in curbing the spread of COVID-19 in Jakarta.


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Translator: Walda Marison, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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