I am part of a Korean community (residing) in Jakarta and I am interested in the vaccination. Getting inoculated feels normal.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Three hundred foreign nationals received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose at Jakarta City Hall as part of a program initiated by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin).

"We, as the Jakarta provincial government, are collaborating with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to reach out to foreigners who live and work in Jakarta to get inoculated," Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said here on Tuesday.

The number of people who obtained the first COVID-19 vaccine dose on Tuesday under the program was 356, out of whom 300 were nationals from 15 countries working in 231 companies in Jakarta, Baswedan informed.

The remaining 56 recipients included the families of foreigners and Indonesian citizens, he added.

The participants had earlier signed up through their respective companies, accommodated by Kadin, which targeted one thousand expatriates under the program, Baswedan said.

The vaccine used for the program was a paid vaccine of the Sinopharm brand priced at Rp700 thousand, he added. The interval between the first vaccine dose and the next needs to be 28 days, he informed.

The next vaccination event for expatriates will be held in the first week of September 2021, he said.

Chairman of Kadin Indonesia Arsjad Rasjid said the activity was a form of collaboration with the Jakarta provincial government considering that foreigners in Jakarta are also part of the capital's community.

"We consider them as our residents who are present here to work in companies in Indonesia. Previously, it was very difficult for them to get the vaccine," he added.

Several expatriates welcomed the vaccination program.

"The service is good because it is quite organized and we are grateful for getting the vaccine," Katy, a Belarusian national who drove her mother to for the vaccination, remarked.

Isaac Kim, a South Korean citizen, also received his first shot after receiving information about the program from the South Korean community here.

"I am part of a Korean community (residing) in Jakarta and I am interested in vaccination. Getting inoculated feels normal," Kim, who recently graduated from an international school in Jakarta, said.

As part of the program, Kadin also handed over 275 oxygen tubes to the Jakarta Provincial Health Office.

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Translator: Dewa W, Kenzu T
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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