President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) reviewed the implementation of COVID-19 booster vaccinations for the elderly and second dose vaccinations for children in Bintan District, Riau Islands Province, on Tuesday.
“We hope that the second dose and booster vaccinations can protect us from the transmission of the Delta and Omicron variant of COVID-19,” he said, according to a statement issued by the Presidential Secretariat.
Apart from Bintan District, mass vaccination programs have also been carried out in a number of regions in the province, including Lingga District, Karimun District, Batam City, Natuna District, Anambas Islands District, and Tanjungpinang City, he noted.
He then lauded the high vaccination coverage in Riau Islands Province.
“We expect that everyone will be protected from COVID-19 after getting vaccinated,” he remarked.
In addition to conducting a direct vaccination review in Bintan District, he also interacted with vaccination participants in Natuna District and Karimun District via video conferencing.
During the virtual dialogue, Widodo reiterated that although vaccination coverage has been quite high, it must continue to be expedited by involving various parties.
“I ask the District Military Command and the Resort Police to assist in accelerating the vaccination program, thus all people can be safe from COVID-19 immediately,” he emphasized.
Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Riau Islands Governor Ansar Ahmad, and acting head of Bintan district, Roby Kurniawan, accompanied Widodo during the visit.
According to Health Ministry’s vaccination dashboard, as of January 25, 2022, the first dose vaccination coverage among the general public, elderly, and medical workers in Riau Islands has reached 96.32 percent, while the second dose coverage has reached 79.83 percent of the target.
Meanwhile, the first dose and second vaccine doses have been administered to 174,178 and 35,280 children, respectively.
Source: Antara News