Regional heads should make creative breakthroughs to accelerate vaccination
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Home Affairs Muhammad Tito Karnavian has called on regional heads to make breakthroughs and creative innovations for increasing the rate of COVID-19 vaccination in their regions.

Karnavian reminded regional heads to stay vigilant amid the spread of the Omicron variant in Indonesia.

"Regional heads should make creative breakthroughs to accelerate vaccination. They can learn from the experiences of other regions that have been successful in increasing the vaccination rate," he noted on Thursday.

He later remarked that several strategies had been implemented by local governments to increase the vaccination rate.

Firstly, local governments should apply government administration-based vaccinations, similar to what the Bali regional government and Jakarta government had done through villages.

Secondly, local governments are expected to build vaccination centers at public places, such as shopping malls, and reach out to the community for easy access.

Thirdly, the local government can implement mobile vaccination to administer vaccination to the public.

Karnavian affirmed that these methods are usually applied in problematic areas or to administer vaccine for people, who refuse to be inoculated.

Under the fourth strategy, the local government can implement door-to-door vaccinations for elderly recipients. This proactive effort is important since the elderly are included in the group vulnerable to the threat of COVID-19.

Under these strategies, local governments have made various creative breakthroughs, for instance, by providing basic necessities and social assistance, offering door prizes to people willing to partake in vaccinations.

He lauded the various breakthroughs made by the local government in increasing the vaccination rate.

The minister is grateful that despite Indonesia having not been able to produce the domestic vaccine, the country could meet the vaccine demand. He lauded the work of various parties involved in the procurement of vaccines.

Hence, local governments should accelerate vaccination rates in their regions to make the most of vaccine availability in Indonesia.

Karnavian is optimistic that through various efforts to increase the vaccination rate, herd immunity would be immediately formed in Indonesia, and the Omicron variant would be handled well.

He called on regional heads to continue to disseminate information to the public on the implementation of health protocols, especially wearing masks. Regional governments should also prepare for the worst-case scenario in terms of a spike in the number cases of COVID-19.

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Translator: Boyke Ledy, Resinta S
Editor: Sri Haryati
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