"This mass vaccination for students is an instruction from President Joko Widodo so that children are protected from the coronavirus," head of BIN Office in South Sumatra, Brigadier General Armansyah, said while reviewing student vaccinations at the 1 Baturaja State Junior High School, Ogan Komering Ulu on Friday.
Ten thousand doses of the Sinovac vaccine have been prepared for vaccinations in Palembang, OKU, and Musibanyuasin, he informed.
A total of 2,200 Sinovac doses -- 1,800 doses for students and 400 doses for house-to-house vaccination services targeting residents -- have been prepared for OKU district, he said.
"Student vaccinations are being carried out in schools," he informed.
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Armansyah said that vaccinations are being carried out for students to increase their resistance to COVID-19 during face-to-face learning at school.
Meanwhile, head of the OKU District Education Office, Teddy Meilwansyah, said that the first stage of vaccinations has been carried out for students in East Baturaja and West Baturaja sub-districts.
"These two sub-districts have the highest number of COVID-19 cases, so they have been prioritized for student vaccination targets," he explained.
In a bid to boost immunity against the COVID-19 virus, the Indonesian government launched a nationwide vaccination program on January 13, 2021. President Joko Widodo was the first recipient of the vaccine under the program.
Through the issuance of Circular Letter Number HK.02.02/I/1727/2021 on the third phase of vaccination for vulnerable people and the general public, as well as vaccinations for children in the age group of 12 to 17 years, the Health Ministry has allowed students aged 12 to 17 years to take part in vaccinations.
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Translator: Edo Purnama, Raka Adji
Editor: Suharto
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