Day: August 24, 2021

Six thousand people with disabilities in West Java province have received COVID-19 jabs, according to data recorded by the Social Office as of August 22, 2021.

People with disabilities can avail COVID-19 vaccination services at vaccination centers and public health facilities, head of West Java Social Office, Dodo Suhendar, said in Bandung on Monday.

“The implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination for people with disabilities is being carried out by taking into account the type of disability,” he informed, adding that people with disabilities can undergo vaccination with the assistance of a companion.

According to Suhendar, 121,648 people living with disabilities have been included in the target list for COVID-19 vaccinations in West Java province.

People living with disabilities who have not been registered as target recipients for COVID-19 vaccinations can contact the district and city Social Office or community health centers closest to their place of residence to register for the program, he said.

Suhendar said that people living with disabilities are a group that is vulnerable to contracting COVID-19. Therefore, the provincial government is intensifying vaccination services for them in collaboration with the COVID-19 Task Force and district and city governments, he informed.

“District and city health offices in West Java have also added places for injecting COVID-19 vaccines for people with disabilities, both in special schools and health centers,” he said.

In addition to providing vaccination services, the provincial government is promoting a campaign for health protocol implementation for people living with disabilities, he informed.

The Indonesian government launched nationwide vaccinations on January 13, 2021 in a bid to stem the spread of COVID-19. President Widodo was the first to receive a COVID-19 shot in the country.

Source: Antara News

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian Health Ministry’s spokesperson for COVID-19 Siti Nadia Tarmizi affirmed that the spread of hoaxes and misinformation on vaccination and COVID-19 posed the biggest challenge for the vaccination program’s acceleration, education, and socialization.

“The number of hoaxes and misinformation also continued to increase along with the amount of information we convey. Currently, 1,300 pieces of false information on vaccines are in circulation,” Tarmizi noted during an online press conference on Monday.

The spokesperson deems it important for the public to become more critical and observant in receiving and disseminating the information they receive.

“This is the main challenge to ensure that the people check the validity of the news first,” she stated.

Tarmizi remarked that the false narratives were mostly regarding the side effects of vaccination. “For instance, the information says that the recipient can die, become paralyzed, or be implanted with a chip after getting vaccinated,” she revealed.

“Meanwhile, the misinformation about COVID-19 was usually that canned milk, coconut water, and eucalyptus oil can cure COVID-19, whereas another hoax misguides people that they do not need any mask,” Tarmizi stated.

Such misinformation can raise doubts about vaccination.

“The hoaxes make people hesitant, as they do not know whom to ask since socialization had not been conducted,” she explained. “For instance, the information says that the recipient can die, become paralyzed, or be implanted with a chip after getting vaccinated,” she revealed.

“Meanwhile, the misinformation about COVID-19 was usually that canned milk, coconut water, and eucalyptus oil can cure COVID-19, whereas another hoax misguides people that they do not need any mask,” Tarmizi stated.

Such misinformation can raise doubts about vaccination.

“The hoaxes make people hesitant, as they do not know whom to ask since socialization had not been conducted,” she explained.

Source: Antara News

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has revealed three strategies for coexisting with the coronavirus, which aim to balance health and economic life.

“There are several instructions from President Joko Widodo that we need to follow up immediately to live with the pandemic,” he said at a virtual press conference that was broadcast via the Presidential Secretariat’s Youtube channel here on Monday.

The strategies comprise information technology-based health protocols, testing and tracing programs, as well as treatment attempts, he informed.

Referring to the health protocols, the minister said that disciplined behavior on part of the community is crucial for responding to the gradual opening of public facilities in urban areas.

“We have collaborated with several associations and organizations to start drafting the information technology-based health protocols,” he stated.

Technology utilization refers to the PeduliLindung app, which will be used nationally at modern and traditional trade places; land, sea, and air transportation; workplaces; as well as tourism and culinary sites, he informed.

“It will also be used at education and religious events,” he added. Furthermore, the second strategy is testing and tracking activities which will be improved to be more on target, the minister said.

“The testing and tracing will not be a mass program anymore. The program will be applied only for epidemiological testing, not for screening,” he added.

The strategy will only target suspected patients and people who have come in close contact with symptomatic patients, Sadikin said.

Meanwhile, the third strategy is treatment for COVID-19 patients in all health facilities.

“The President has urged all health facilities to provide primary isolation services with basic treatments in future. Thus, hospitals are only filled with critical and severe cases,” Sadikin said.

The Health Ministry is also conducting studies to focus on treating critical patients with severe symptoms in hospitals and reducing the currently high mortality rate, he added.

“We encourage primary services at the community health centers or clinics to treat people who only need isolation or elementary treatments,” he said. (

Source: Antara News

The government underscored the state’s presence to protect children, including those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, through the issuance of Government Regulation (PP) No. 78 of 2021.

Protection of children during the COVID-19 pandemic is not only realized through safeguarding their health but also through efforts to create and maintain a conducive environment for their growth and development.

“This COVID-19 pandemic is classified as a disaster situation that affects the lives of children. Through PP No. 78 of 2021, the president gives directions for all parties to ensure that there are additional steps for the government to take in protecting children, especially from situations and conditions that threaten their growth and development,” Communication and Informatics Minister Johnny G. Plate stated here on Monday.

A child, in this regulation, is defined as a person under the age of 18, including those who are still in the womb. The PP on Special Protection for Children was signed by President Jokowi on August 10, 2021, and issued based on empirical sociological needs and juridical needs.

From the empirical sociological perspective, certain situations and conditions endanger children’s lives, including those in emergencies, children in conflict with the law, children exploited both sexually and economically, victims of trafficking, and other special conditions.

Meanwhile, emergency situations where children need special protection, for instance, according to Article 1, paragraph 2 of PP 78 of 2021 wherein children need a security guarantee against threats that endanger their growth and development.

Children in need of special protection fall into at least 20 categories, including child victims of sexual exploitation, terrorist networks, physical violence, trafficking, and disasters, including non-natural disasters, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

The form of special protection for children provided is rapid treatment, including medication and rehabilitation, psychosocial assistance, social aid for children from underprivileged families, and protection and assistance in every judicial process.

From a juridical perspective, this regulation is a mandate from Law Number 35 of 2014 concerning Child Protection, which mandates further regulation on special protection for children through the establishment of a government regulation.

Minister Plate remarked that the issuance of this regulation was an affirmative form of the state’s commitment to serving special protection needs of children, considering that this protection issue cannot be solved separately.

Issuance of the regulation also clarifies the duties and authorities of the central and regional governments and institutions in ensuring the comprehensive protection of children.

Of course, the minister noted that the wider community can also participate in offering protection to children.

“These children are the responsibility of the state. In essence, we must work together to prevent children from becoming victims in emergencies, as they are our future,” Plate affirmed.

Source: Antara News

Home Affairs Minister (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian allowed Jakarta to conduct face-to-face classes at schools, with 50-percent capacity, during the community activities restriction (PPKM) level 3.

The regulation stipulated in Instruction of Home Affairs Minister No. 35 of 2021 on PPKM Level 4, Level 3, and Level 2 of COVID-19 in Java-Bali is effective from August 24 to August 30.

“The learning method in school can be conducted by online learning or face-to-face medium with limited capacity at school. This regulation is based on the Joint Decree of the Minister of Education and Culture, Minister of Religion, Minister of Health and Minister of Home Affairs,” according to the home affairs minister’s instruction. The implementation of face-to-face learning, with a maximum capacity of 50 percent, applies to educational units, such as elementary and secondary schools and universities in district and cities in Jakarta with level 3 criteria: Kepulauan Seribu District, West Jakarta City, East Jakarta City, South Jakarta City, North Jakarta City, and Central Jakarta City.

Karnavian conveyed that the PPKM stipulation for district and city level referred to the indicators for adjusting public health efforts and social restrictions in combating the COVID-19 pandemic set by the health minister.

However, the maximum capacity to hold face-to-face learning for early childhood education units (PAUD) is 33 percent by maintaining a minimum distance of 1.5 meters and a maximum of five students per class. Meanwhile, education for children with special needs, ranging from SDLB, MILB, SMPLB, and SMALB to MALB, has a maximum capacity of 62-100 percent by maintaining a minimum distance of 1.5 meters and a maximum of five students per class.

The Instruction of the Minister of Home Affairs Number 35 of 2021 was a follow up to President Joko Widodo’s directive to implement PPKM Level 4, Level 3, and Level 2 against COVID-19 in Java and Bali in accordance with the criteria for the level of the pandemic situation based on the assessment as well as optimizing the COVID-19 handling command posts at the village and sub-district levels to stem the spread of COVID-19.

Source: Antara News

The University of Indonesia’s Public Health Faculty epidemiologist Iwan Ariawan cautioned people to exercise self-restraint despite the government’s decision to lower the activities restriction enforcement (PPKM) rating in their region, from level 4 to level 3.

“With new COVID-19 mutations discovered, our efforts to achieve herd immunity would be tougher on account of the current vaccine efficacy. Despite COVID-19 cases declining, we should remain cautious,” Ariawan stated here, Tuesday.

The public should continue to adhere to health protocols, while the government should enhance its testing, tracing, and treatment (3T) process and vaccination efforts.

“Relaxation following the PPKM score improvement should be followed by continued adherence to health protocols, such as by requiring to register on the COVID-19 tracing application PeduliLindungi before being allowed to access public places,” Ariawan noted. He concurred with the government’s decision to upgrade the PPKM level in regions recording significant improvement in their COVID-19 indicators.

“I agree to the government’s decision on upgrading the PPKM level in regions with improved COVID-19 indicators, but the authority should remain careful and continue to observe health protocols despite the relaxation to prevent a spike in the number of positive cases,” Ariawan stated.

Ariawan reminded the authority to engage in dialog with business actors to disseminate information on the planned relaxation following the PPKM level upgrade, thereby allowing businesses to comprehend and consent to continue to enforce health protocols in their premises. He supported the authorities’ willingness to penalize businesses that failed to adhere to health protocols if violations occurred in future.

“The government can order a temporary closure of malls or businesses violating health protocols or those that become COVID-19 infection clusters,” he remarked.

Earlier, the government had declared the PPKM to be extended until August 30 and announced an improvement in the PPKM level for several areas that managed to successfully control the infection rate in their regions. Agglomerated areas of Jakarta, Bandung, and Surabaya are among the regions with improved PPKM rating to level 3.

Source: Antara News

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Health Ministry is distributing additional 13 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from various manufacturers to several regions across Indonesia, according to an official.

“In the near future, local governments will receive deliveries of more than 13 million doses,” the ministry’s acting Director General for Pharmacy and Medical Devices, Arianti Anaya, stated in a virtual press conference here on Tuesday.

As of Monday (Aug 23), the government has dispatched a total of 130.3 million COVID-19 doses, of which some 116.4 million doses, or 85 percent, were distributed to the regions.

The vaccines comprise 4.8 million doses of the CoronaVac vaccine bought from China’s Sinovac, 85.9 million doses of CoronaVac but produced by Bandung-based Bio Farma that established cooperation with Sinovac, 1.5 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, 15.9 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine, 77.5 million doses of Moderna vaccine, and 499,886 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine.

Arianti noted that the government had maintained a stock of 5.8 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for immediate distribution to the regions.

“This vaccine stock has just arrived. Hence, if it just arrived, of course, it cannot be distributed immediately, as they must be given numbers first in Indonesia. However, it only takes a few days, and we will immediately distribute it,” she stated.

A total of 8.1 million doses of the government’s vaccine quota stock are in the delivery stage to local government facilities, she noted.

“This is something we need to be grateful for, as we want to speed up the vaccination process across Indonesia,” she remarked.

Until the end of 2021, the estimated number of vaccines that Indonesia will receive will continue to increase.

“Later, from August, September, October, November, and December, we will receive quite a lot of vaccines of various brands,” she noted.

The vaccines come from manufacturers, such as AstraZeneca, Sinovac, Novavax, Pfizer, and Moderna, provided under the COVAC Facility mechanism.

In August 2021, the government is targeting the availability of 67.6 million doses of vaccine from various sources: 19.8 million doses of Bio Farma, 25 million doses of Coronavac, 15.9 million vaccine doses from Covax facilities, 2.2 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine under bilateral cooperation, 1.5 million doses of Pfizer vaccine under the bilateral cooperation scheme, 2.5 million vaccine doses under the bilateral grant, and 0.5 million doses of Sinopharm vaccine.

“In September 2021, the government targets to obtain additional stocks, specifically around 80.7 million vaccine doses from various sources that are sufficient to be used, with a vaccination rate of two million per day,” she noted.

Source: Antara News

The Indonesian government has set the maximum retail price for PCR swab test in Indonesia at Rp495,000-Rp525,000, with this price being one of the cheapest amongst other Southeast Asian countries.

According to the Health Ministry’s data, the price of PCR test in Indonesia is lesser than that in some Asian countries, such as Thailand, with one PCR swab test costing Rp1.3 million-Rp2.8 million. Meanwhile, the PCR swab test service in Singapore costs SGD160, or Rp1.5 million.

On the contrary, India receives full subsidies from its government as well as the PCR swab test equipment, including reagents, and self-produced medicine.

“If only Indonesia could produce reagents and PCR swab test components, then the price could be surely controlled and be cheaper,” epidemiologist Dicky Gunawan noted in an official statement on Tuesday.

Gunawan later noted that the current obstacle faced in reducing the price of PCR in Indonesia was the imported reagents and other components as well as the high investment costs, especially the laboratory equipment deployed.

Earlier, 56,747 active cases had been recorded per day at the end of July. Currently, the daily case count stands at around 20 thousand.

The periodic emergency community restriction (PPKM Darurat) had a significant impact on lowering the number of daily cases. The reduction in the price of PCR tests and public awareness to conduct independent checks through Antigen Swab and PCR Swab Tests also helped to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Source: Antara News