I remembered the dreadful sight of hospitals halls and fields being full of patients.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Some 281,299,690 COVID-19 vaccination doses were administered as of Monday morning, surpassing the targeted 280 million doses, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated.

"In fact, I was concerned whether we could achieve the target," the president remarked while inaugurating the 2022 Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) opening trade at the Indonesia Stock Exchange building, Jakarta, on Monday.

The coverage of first dose vaccination in provincial capitals and big cities, with high community interaction, has crossed 70 percent, he remarked.

Jokowi also noted that 27 provinces had administered the first dose of vaccination to over 70 percent of their population.

Hence, the coverage of first dose vaccination for health workers, elderly, public officials, vulnerable communities, general public, and children aged 12-17 years had reached 79.6 percent, while the second doses were injected to 54 percent of the total target of 208,265,720 people.

Furthermore, vaccination for children aged 6-11 years had reached 3.8 million doses as of January 2, 2022, the president remarked.

However, the head of state admitted that achieving the target was no easy task on account of Indonesia’s diverse topography that necessitated vaccination officers to go by motorbike, ship, or on foot to conduct vaccinations in the outermost regions.

The target was achieved due to the hard work of the central government, regional governments, military, police, State Intelligence Agency (BIN), private companies, community organizations, as well as other parties, he affirmed.

"Implementing mutual cooperation is our capital in achieving the target," he stated.

Jokowi also admitted that 2021 was a challenging year, as daily confirmed COVID-19 cases in Indonesia had reached 56 thousand in mid-July of 2021.

“I remembered the dreadful sight of hospitals halls and fields being full of patients,” he recalled.

Thus, Jokowi was grateful since there were only 174 confirmed cases in Indonesia on January 2, 2022. However, he urged the public to stay vigilant to prevent a surge in cases.

Jokowi was also relieved that the number of people confirmed positive reached only 1.6 percent as compared to the total population in Indonesia.

The figure is far below other countries, such as the United States, at 16.8 percent; Brazil, 10.5 percent; Russia, 7.2 percent; and India, 2.5 percent.

"We are ranked 147th out of the 222 countries. Thus, we should be grateful for it,” the president emphasized.

Meanwhile, the trading opening was also attended by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, Chairman of the Financial Services Authority (OJK) Wimboh Santoso, Governor of Bank Indonesia Perry Warjiyo, and other related officials.

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Translator: Desca Natalia, Uyu Liman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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