There is no set target. (The president) only requests to speed up the vaccination rate, so we must increase it
Yogyakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) called on Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X to speed up the COVID-19 vaccination rate in his region.

"There is no set target. (The president) only requests to speed up the vaccination rate, so we must increase it," the Yogyakarta governor remarked after meeting President Jokowi at Gedhong Pracimasana, Kepatihan Complex, here on Friday.

The governor called to accelerate inoculation by pushing mass vaccination programs in Yogyakarta, covering at least 20 thousand people per day. Currently, they only administer vaccines to some 11 thousand residents per day.

"As long as it cannot be done like that (targeting 20 thousand people per day), it will not necessarily be accomplished by the end of this year, if it is only 11 thousand (per day)," he remarked.

Hamengku Buwono X targets an 80-percent vaccination rate in the region by October 2021. However, currently, the vaccination rate in Yogyakarta has only reached 66 percent.


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"In October 2021, administration of the first dose was completed, and there will only be the second (dose). However, the important aspect is that after the first dose (of the vaccine), the community already has immunity," Hamengku Buwono X remarked.

He revealed that vaccination in Yogyakarta was not constrained by stocks, but rather, realization at the district level.

"Provinces are just stockpiles. District and cities are doing it. The important aspect is that districts and cities are diligently (administering) vaccines," he added.

Based on the Yogyakarta Regional Government's data, the vaccination rate in Yogyakarta as per September 9, 2021, indicates that 66.42 percent of the total targeted 2,879,699 had received the first vaccination dose, while the second dose was only given to 29.71 percent.


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In addition to pressing for expedited vaccinations, President Jokowi reminded the heads of districts and mayors that the opening of community activities in Yogyakarta should be conducted in stages, so that the number of COVID-19 cases do not spike again, the Yogyakarta governor noted.

"Do not open it up and then let (the cases) increase up again. Be careful because it is steep enough, so you will open it gradually and carefully. However, vaccinations must be conducted as much as possible despite only being the first dose," the governor noted.

President Jokowi met with the Yogyakarta governor and the Yogyakarta Regional Leadership Coordination Forum at the Kepatihan Office after observing the mass vaccination at the Jogja Expo Center (JEC) and COVID-19 vaccinations for students at special schools in Bantul District.

According to Secretary of Yogyakarta, Kadarmanta Baskara Aji, after meeting with the Yogyakarta Forkopimda, President Jokowi was scheduled to hold Friday prayers at Gedung Agung and then visit the Muhammadiyah Muallimin Madrasah, Bantul District.

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Translator: Luqman Hakim, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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