"Until today, some 44,832 people, or 28.4 percent of the total 157,934 COVID-19 vaccination program target (recipients have received the shots)," West Bangka COVID-19 Task Force spokesperson M. Putra Kusuma said in Mentok on Wednesday.
The West Bangka government, together with the COVID-19 Task Force, Health Office, and other agencies, will continue to push mass vaccination programs to increase vaccine coverage and build herd immunity against the deadly virus, he added.
Efforts made so far have ranged from dissemination of information, education, and data recording at RT level, assisted by community police officers (Bhabinkamtibnas) and noncommissioned law enforcement officers (Babinsas), he informed.
"Currently, we are aiming to administer 2,196 doses of vaccines daily, be it first vaccine doses or the second," Kusuma said.
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In addition to increasing the target from around 700 doses per day to 2,196 doses per day, the West Bangka district government has also added more vaccine outlets, he informed. The effort has been made in collaboration with other agencies, such as the police force, district military command, public prosecutor's office, and schools, he added.
So far, 3,897 residents in the 12-18 age group have received the first vaccine dose, and 136 more have received the second dose, he said.
With schools once again implementing face-to-face teaching and learning activities, the district government has started administering COVID-19 vaccines to student groups, he added.
The vaccinations are expected to boost the immune systems of students and help accelerate the creation of herd immunity, Kusuma said.
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Translator: Donatus D P, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Suharto
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