Jakarta (ANTARA) - National Police chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo has urged Indonesians to support the government's efforts toward transitioning from the pandemic to the endemic phase.

He made the appeal while reviewing a vaccination program at BRI Sports Arena, Radio Dalam, South Jakarta, which will be followed by similar programs at 5,777 vaccination locations throughout Indonesia and seek to deliver 1.5 million doses.

He said that some of the parameters for supporting the transition strategy included accelerating COVID-19 vaccinations and controlling the rate of COVID-19 spread.

“On the one hand, we (are determining ways to control the rate of COVID-19 spread). The recovery rate is expected to increase and the death rate to be kept to a minimum by providing community care in hospitals so that (higher) fatality rate can be avoided," he said in a written statement received here on Tuesday.

Vaccinations will continue to be expedited across Indonesia to prepare and support the government's efforts to achieve endemicity, he added.

The WHO has set a new target for Indonesia under which all provinces will need to record a 70-percent vaccination rate by the end of May 2022, he informed.

Although on a national scale, Indonesia has recorded a high vaccination rate of 71 percent for the second dose, second dose coverage has not been uniform at the provincial level, he noted.

He reminded the public to take part in booster vaccinations by utilizing the outlets and facilities provided by the stakeholders.

The national police chief said that a third dose would provide better immunity against all types of COVID-19 variants.

Booster vaccines can reduce risk following virus exposure, especially for those with comorbidities, he added.

He then expressed his appreciation for youth groups who are members of Cipayung Plus for cooperating in Tuesday's vaccination program.

He said he expected that in the future, youth groups, as the nation's next generation, would educate the public about the importance of getting vaccinated as a means to bring the pandemic under control.

Prabowo also issued directives to all staff in Indonesia via virtual means in a bid to combat the pandemic

During the event, he also observed the people's market program, under which cooking oil was sold at a lower price. Meanwhile, people who were vaccinated in the event were provided staple foods.

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Translator: Laily Rahmawaty, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
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