We have given the first dose of the vaccine to 1,754 pregnant women. This demonstrates the enthusiasm among pregnant womenJakarta (ANTARA) - The Jakarta government administered the first dose of COVID-19 vaccination to 1,754 pregnant women in the capital after the Ministry of Health authorized the vaccine for use among expectant mothers on August 2, 2021.
"We have given the first dose of the vaccine to 1,754 pregnant women. This demonstrates the enthusiasm among pregnant women," Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan stated at the launch of the Indonesian Pregnant Women COVID-19 Vaccination Program at the Jakarta City Hall, here on Thursday.
Baswedan noted that vaccination for pregnant women was one of the ways to safeguard against COVID-19 apart from implementing health protocols, as mothers have a high risk of being exposed to COVID-19.
Baswedan stated that during the pandemic handling period, his administration focused on childbirth for COVID-19 positive mothers.
All community health centers at the sub-district level up to the Regional General Hospital (RSUD) are ready to tend to pregnant women infected with COVID-19, Baswedan stated.
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The governor expressed hope that research would be conducted on pregnant women that got vaccinated.
"This will enable us to have comprehensive data on treating COVID-19 and vaccines for pregnant women and children. We want our policy to be in line with science and research on the field," he emphasized.
At the same occasion, Head of the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) Hasto Wardoyo lauded the speed of conducting vaccination for pregnant women in Jakarta since the Health Ministry’s issuance of the permit on August 2, 2021.
Wardoyo noted that until April 2021, some 536 pregnant women in Indonesia were exposed to COVID-19, of which 16 died, or it is estimated that out of every thousand pregnant women confirmed positive, 32 died.
Meanwhile, in a non-COVID-19 scenario, Wardoyo stated that the mortality rate for pregnant women averaged three out of a thousand pregnant women.
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The national program of vaccination for pregnant women in Jakarta is centered at the Jakarta City Hall.
Numerous pregnant women eagerly participated in the vaccination program, including Diah Yuliani, who at that time received the Sinovac vaccine.
Before receiving the vaccine, Yuliani, who was preparing to welcome the birth of her fourth child, had breakfast and brought lunch from home.
“We have been informed since yesterday about the vaccination. I did not feel anything when I was injected. I hope everyone is healthy," Yuliani stated.
The launch of the national vaccination program for pregnant women at the Jakarta City Hall was attended by Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto and Deputy Governor of Jakarta Ahmad Riza Patria.
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Translator: Dewa W, Resinta S
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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