Mentok, Bangka Belitung (ANTARA) - The West Bangka COVID-19 Task Force is pushing mass vaccination programs for students in order to build herd immunity among them and protect them from the coronavirus.

"Today, vaccination programs have been held in some high schools. We hope everything goes smoothly, and the distributed vaccines are used well, so there are more people who get vaccinated," West Bangka police chief, Adjunct Senior Commissioner Agus Siswanto, said in Mentok, on Wednesday.

The vaccination hosted on Wednesday targeted high school students, he informed. The Sinovac vaccine will be administered as the first dose under the program, he added.

"Today, we are also helping the mass vaccination program for students by bringing some healthcare workers and vaccinators from West Bangka Police, along with healthcare workers from Sejiran Setason Regional Hospital and Health Office, facilitating COVID-19 vaccinations in Bina Karya Vocational School, as many as 142 students," Siswanto said.

Related news: West Bangka police helps residents in coastal areas get vaccinated

After monitoring and supervising vaccinations at the school, Siswanto reviewed mass vaccinations at a booth set up at the Mentok National Tin Museum.

At the booth, officers provided vaccination services to the general public by involving health workers from Sejiran Setason Regional Hospital and Mentok Bakti Timah Hospital, he said.

"We will continue to carry out vaccine attacks by coming in the community so that the target of forming group immunity is immediately achieved and we can return to normal activities," he added.

In addition, Siswanto said, the acceleration of vaccinations for residents in the area is also expected to provide a sense of security and comfort to students, who are currently starting face-to-face teaching and learning activities.

Besides Bina Karya Vocational School, mass vaccinations were also held in several locations on Wednesday, including Mentok State Vocational School (targeting 400 students), Simpangteritip High School (targeting 200 students), Simpangteritip State Vocational School (targeting 200 targets), Jebus State High School (targeting 250 students), Parittiga State High School (targeting 200 students), Parittiga State Vocational School (targeting 250 students), Kelapa State High School (targeting 250 students), and Tempilang State High School (targeting 250 students), he informed.

Related news: West Bangka COVID-19 Task Force asked to monitor offline learning



Translator: Donatus D P, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Suharto
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