The ministry and some stakeholders, such as the Shopping Center Tenants Association (Hippindo), Uniqlo, and the Jakarta provincial government conducted a booster vaccination program for the public on March 7-11, 2022, especially for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, with the objective of delivering more of 500 vaccine doses.
"There is a likelihood of the infection being transmitted to these business actors (MSMEs), which drive (growth of) the economy, and also them transmitting (COVID-19). Hence, the administration of several vaccinations is expected to help our economy to return to normal," Masduki noted at the Smesco Building, Jakarta, on Monday.
Minister Masduki deemed Indonesia as being one of the five countries to have successfully vaccinated its people. Despite the pandemic, the economic condition could be viewed as not being too direly affected by the outbreak.
“(This) is proof that Indonesia can recover faster. It is also (owing) to the support of government policies that provide business convenience and appropriate fiscal and microprudential policies," he remarked.
The COVID-19 outbreak is expected to end soon this year, and normalcy in life to be restored as before due to the shift from a pandemic to an endemic stage.
Should it turn into an endemic, it served as an indication of the public's ability to coexist with the virus. Thus, he appealed to everyone, including MSME actors, to continue to follow health protocols.
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Masduki listed staying healthy, maintaining stamina, and fulfilling the required health facilities as the keys to achieving such a change.
General Chairperson of Hippindo Budihardjo Iduansjah stated that his administration had made extensive efforts to administer booster vaccination to MSME actors in accordance with the government policy.
"Hippindo will make all efforts, so that all employees, suppliers, MSMEs, and their ecosystem can be vaccinated. We are optimistic that our efforts would contribute to putting an end to the COVID-19 pandemic," he emphasized.
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Translator: M Baqir I A, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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