Head of the Bangka Belitung BIN Imam Santoso remarked that the step was taken to cover people that had not received the COVID-19 vaccine in the districts of East Belitung, Bangka, Belitung, and Central Bangka. He delivered the statement in Sungailiat on Monday.
"We continue to survey various areas to facilitate people that have not received the COVID-19 vaccine by directly visiting the neighborhood," he elaborated.
He stressed the need for immediately creating herd immunity to protect the people from the COVID-19 variant that was forecast to continue to grow.
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"Better vigilance is needed because currently, the Omicron variant has begun to infect several countries, including neighboring nations, such as Singapore," he stated.
Santoso lent assurance to the public that the vaccine had been proven as halal, or permissible in Islam, and safe by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM). Thus, there was no reason for them to fear anything.
"We are optimistic that the people, who have not been vaccinated, would be willing to come to the provided vaccination outlets in a bid to increase awareness of the new variants of COVID-19, such as Omicron," Santoso remarked.
In addition to vaccination services for the prioritized age groups, his side had distributed basic food packages to residents that were vaccinated at that time.
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Translator: Kasmono, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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