Riau Governor Syamsuar has instructed health offices in all cities and districts in the province to exhaust the existing COVID-19 vaccine stocks and refrain from hoarding the vaccines.
The instruction to use up the vaccine was made in consideration that the COVID-19 vaccine coverage in the province was only at 46.9 per cent, he said here on Sunday.
“Only 2.1 million people, or equals to 46.9 per cent of our population, have been vaccinated,” Syamsuar stated.
The province aimed to innaculate 4.4 million residents to reach 70 per cent vaccine coverage from Riau’s 6.3 million residents by 2021 end, the governor remarked.
“The low vaccination coverage in Riau also causing our activities restriction enforcement (PPKM) level to stuck at level 2 and could not improve to level 1,” he said.
The governor instructs officials and health offices in all cities and districts to exhaust existing vaccine stocks, as the central government would wait for the vaccine stock emptied before shipping the new vaccine batches.
“We urge cities and districts authorities to expedite the vaccination effort because if we do not exhaust the vaccine stocks and report the vaccine usage, the central government will not increase the quota for new vaccine shipping,” Syamsuar warned.
He also highlighted that collaboration among province officials to expedite the vaccination effort is necessary, as Riau must join with other Indonesian provinces that have expedited their vaccination effort to reach nationwide herd immunity to end the COVID-19 pandemic.
The governor also expressed his gratitude to local media networks that have assisted Riau authority in disseminating information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly information about health protocol and vaccination.
“Information published by local media wards off incorrect information about vaccination and encourage residents to come to the vaccination centres,” Syamsuar remarked.
Source: Antara News