We will observe the seriousness of regional headsJakarta (ANTARA) - Home Affairs Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian has urged the regional governments in Indonesia to be serious in expediting COVID-19 vaccinations.
In his official statement here, Friday, Karnavian said that not only as an effort to protect the community from COVID-19, but vaccination acceleration has also been instructed by President Joko Widodo, who has targeted 70 percent of the population to be vaccinated at least with the first dose by the end of 2021.
“We will observe the seriousness of regional heads,” Karnavian stressed.
The minister affirmed that Jokowi had tasked him with visiting regions in the country to encourage regional governments to expedite vaccinations. On Friday, December 17, 2021, he had visited West Sumatra Province.
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Karnavian noted that several regions, including West Sumatra, still had a low vaccination coverage.
The minister expressed hope that the regional heads’ seriousness would rev up vaccinations in a bid to achieve the target soon.
"We are optimistic that by the end of the year, West Sumatra would be able to reach 70 percent (vaccination coverage), and it could be more," he remarked.
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Karnavian also emphasized that he will sanction regions with a low vaccination coverage. Meanwhile, his ministry will suggest to the Finance Ministry to provide additional regional incentive funds and general allocation funds to those that had achieved the target.
In a bid to boost immunity against COVID-19, the Indonesian government launched a nationwide vaccination program on January 13, 2021. President Jokowi was the first vaccine recipient under the program.
According to data provided by the Health Ministry, as of December 17, 2021, nearly 150,249,500 citizens have received their first COVID-19 shot, while 106,020,538 have been fully vaccinated against the virus.
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Translator: Boyke Ledy, Raka Adji
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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