On an average, we inject 2.4 million doses in a dayJakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Health has decided to intensify COVID-19 vaccinations through the application of four strategies on account of sufficient vaccines stocks for meeting domestic requirements.
"In this last quarter, we have a considerable number of vaccines. Thus, in this year's second half, efforts must be accelerated," Ministry's COVID-19 Vaccination spokesperson, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, noted during the webinar "Inclusive Vaccination Challenges for Indigenous Peoples and Vulnerable Groups" here on Wednesday.
Tarmizi remarked that the government's endeavors in procuring the COVID-19 vaccine since January 2021 were limited, at only some three million doses, seven million doses in February, and 13 million doses in March.
"During the April-May 2021 period, we could not obtain AstraZeneca vaccine doses because India was withholding vaccine production due to the increase in Delta cases," she pointed out.
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The supply of COVID-19 vaccines in Indonesia began to increase since June 2021 until now.
"Vaccine stocks increased in June, July, and August when it started to reach 53 million doses, 81 million doses in September, and so on," she remarked.
According to Tarmizi, the relatively safe vaccine stocks should be followed by steps to accelerate vaccination rates to cover all targeted communities.
"On an average, we inject 2.4 million doses in a day," she revealed.
The ministry's several strategies for accelerating vaccination among members of the community comprise the intensification of COVID-19 vaccination services in healthcare facilities.
"The strategy is to increase the number of service days, the service sessions per day, the service time of each session, and the target quota per session," Tarmizi stated.
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She noted that another policy aims to increase the number of healthcare facilities and health workers that conduct the COVID-19 vaccination.
The ministry has also opened COVID-19 vaccination posts on a massive scale by implementing health protocols.
"We provide vaccination posts outdoors where people do not have to get out of the vehicle," she remarked.
Tarmizi noted that the deployed mobile vaccination cars are managed by healthcare centers (Puskesmas).
The spokesperson noted that vaccinations were also organized by ministries and institutions at crowded places, such as office buildings, markets, shopping centers, stadiums, and places of worship.
"We also encourage community organizations to work with the district and city or provincial health offices and the Health Ministry to open COVID-19 vaccination posts," she noted.
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Translator: Andi F, Kenzu T
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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