Labuan Bajo (ANTARA) - Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno lauded West Manggarai Government, East Nusa Tenggara, for achieving a 76.5% rate for the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. “We laud West Manggarai District because they achieved the target, above the average, for the first dose, which is 76.5 percent,” Uno said in Labuan Bajo on Thursday.

He also asked the regional government to draft a new vaccination strategy while monitoring the vaccination campaign at the Labuan Bajo Antis Vaccination Center.

One such target is to push the vaccination rate among the youth in West Manggarai, since they resumed face-to-face learning. The vaccination rate for the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine among the youth in West Manggarai has only reached 59.2%, while for the second dose this is only 32.4%, as of 1st December, 2021.

He then urged all stakeholders, both from the community and the government, to work together to restore West Manggarai's economic sector.

Uno asked the Head of West Manggarai District, Edistasius Endi, to ensure the community receives assistance according to their needs, to ensure the success of the economic recovery program.

He also tasked the managing director of the Labuan Bajo Flores authority to coordinate the reopening of tourist destinations and creative economy centers, to promote the welfare of the people of Labuan Bajo, in particular, and West Manggarai, in general.

He expects Labuan Bajo’s tourism sector to recover quickly, as well as its economy, in general, so people can earn income again from new job opportunities.

Related news: COVID-19: Number of second dose recipients reaches 96.5 million

Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Budie Arie Setiadi also lauded the government's efforts and hard work.

He stressed vaccination services could be done efficiently through the cooperation between all stakeholders, including the government, the national defense force, the police force, ministries and agencies, and the community.

“Hopefully, the implementation of the vaccination campaign can be completed as efficiently as possible. We are a healthy people and strong country,” he said.

Based on data from the West Manggarai Health Office as of 1st December, 2021, the COVID-19 vaccination rate for the first dose in the region is 76.5% of the targeted 202,827 people, or 155,094.

On the other hand, the second dose of COVID-19 vaccination has been delivered to 35.4% of the targeted 155,094 people, or 71,857.

Related news: Two-thirds of Indonesians get first vaccine doses

Translator: Fransiska N, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Suharto
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