OMIKAMI-TV : The Government of Indonesia Started a Free COVID-19 Vaccination Program at The Presidential Office, Jakarta

JAKARTA (Indonesia), OMIKAMI-TV - The Government of Indonesia started a free COVID-19 vaccination program on Wednesday (11/13/2021). Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has been scheduled to be the first recipient of the vaccine.

"God willing, our ladies and gentlemen will start on Wednesday and will be started by Mr. President," said Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Monday (11/01/2021) at the Presidential Office, Jakarta.

Previously, the Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) had approved the use of emergency use authorization (EUA) for the COVID-19 vaccine.

"Today, Monday, January 11, 2021, the POM Agency granted permission to use emergency useauthorizationfor the first COVID-19 vaccine to the CoronoVac vaccine produced by Sinovac Biotech Inc. in cooperation with PT Bio Farma," said Head of BPOM Penny K. Lukito in his press statement, in Jakarta, Monday (11/01/2021).

In addition, the Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI) has also issued a fatwa that the vaccine is halal and sacred.

"Related to the halal aspect, after a long discussion of auditors' explanations, the Fatwa Commission meeting agreed that the COVID-19 vaccine produced by Sinovac Lifescience whose certification was submitted by Bio Farma, sacred and halal," said Mui Chairman of Fatwa KH. Asrorun Niam Sholeh, Friday (08/01/2021).

As stated by Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin, vaccination program is one of the main strategies to solve the COVID-19 pandemic problem and it takes more than 12 months to be able to complete this program. Therefore, he hopes for the support and participation of all Indonesian people.

"Hopefully what we are doing here can be followed, can be cooperated, can be supported by all indonesian people because there is no way the government can do this alone. I believe that together we can," said Budi when welcoming the arrival of 1.8 million COVID-19 vaccines at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten, at the end of December.

The vaccine will be administered to approximately 181.5 million Indonesians to obtain community immunity or herd immunity. The implementation will be carried out in stages with the first priority being health workers as the vanguard in handling COVID-19.

Next are public service officers as well as elderly groups (60 years and older). Vaccination to the elderly group will be carried out after obtaining vaccine safety information for the group.

Then, vulnerable communities with high risk of transmission, as well as other communities with cluster approaches in accordance with the availability of vaccines.

However, in line with the vaccination program, the Ministry of Health still reminds all people to remain disciplined in adhering to 3M health protocols because the pandemic is not over.

"With the running of this vaccination program, we must continue to carry out health protocols; wash your hands, wear a mask, and keep your distance," he concluded.

President Jokowi Receives First Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine

"Your blood pressure is 130/67, healthy. If his blood pressure is above 140 it is not given (vaccine injections)," the official said.

In addition, officers also asked a number of questions for screening, including confirmation of never being exposed to COVID-19; history of coughs, fevers and colds for the last 7 days; and a history of heart disease or a history of other participating diseases.

"Here I write it is feasible to vaccinate yes," the officer said after conducting the screening.

Then, the President headed to Table 3 to receive an injection of the COVID-19 vaccine. Here the President who appears to be wearing a short-sleeved white shirt is given an injection by vaccinator Prof. dr. Abdul Muthalib who is also a presidential doctor.

"I will take the vaccine (COVID-19) from the coolbox that will be injected to Mr. President," said the official while showing the vaccine taken.

The vaccine is then handed over to the vaccinator to be then injected into the President. "It doesn't feel at all," the President said when asked by the vaccinator after being injected.

After being vaccinated, the Head of State headed to Table 4 for the recording. The President must also wait for 30 minutes to anticipate if there is a Post-Immunization Follow-up Event (KIPI). As a recipient of the vaccine, the President was also given a vaccination card and an educational marker for COVID-19 prevention.

List of First COVID-19 Vaccine Recipients With The President

Together with the President in the first session of vaccination, a number of representatives from various backgrounds participated in the inaugural COVID-19 vaccination held at the veranda of Merdeka Palace this time.

The names of the representatives are:
1. Daeng Mohammad Faqih (Chairman of PB IDI);
2. Amirsyah Tambunan (Secretary General of MUI at the same time representing Muhammadiyah);
2. Ahmad Ngisomudin (Rais Syuriah PBNU);
4. Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto (TNI Commander);
5. General Pol. Idham Azis (Police Chief); Dan
6. Raffi Ahmad (millennial representative).

Daeng Mohammad Faqih, a graduate of the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, is currently the General Chairman of the Indonesian Doctors Association. He was active in the Indonesian Hospital Board in 2014-2017 and has been included in the Central Quality and Cost Control Team as well as the Board of Trustees of the Hospital Accreditation Commission.

Amirsyah Tambunan, Secretary General of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) who also represents Muhammadiyah, in addition to being active as Secretary General of MUI, is also listed as Vice Chairman of the Waqf and Kehartabendaan Assembly of PP Muhammadiyah 2015-2020. Amirsyah also served as Deputy Secretary General of MUI in 2010-2015.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Ngisomudin who is a representative of Nahdlatul Ulama, is currently active as Rois Syuriah The Executive Board of Nahdlatul Ulama. He is also active as a lecturer of UIN Raden Intan Lampung.

As for the millennials, present Raffi Ahmad who is a public figure.

For the record, in addition to the six above, a number of representatives also appeared to be present at the first vaccination in the following sessions. Those present were Budi Gunadi Sadikin (Minister of Health), Unifah Rosyidi (Chairman of PGRI), Ronald Rischard Tapilatu (Fellowship of Churches in Indonesia), Father Agustinus Heri Wibowo (Conference of Indonesian Bishops), I Nyoman Suarthani (Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia), Partono Nyanasuryanadi (Indonesian Buddhist Association), and Peter Lesmana (Supreme Council of Religion Khonghucu Indonesia).

In addition, there were also other representatives, namely Penny Kusumastuti Lukito (Head of BPOM), Rosan Perkasa Roeslani (Head of Kadin), Ade Zubaidah (Secretary General of the Indonesian Midwives Association), Harif Fadhillah (Chairman of the DPP PPNI) Nur Fauzah (nurse), Lusy Noviani (Wasekjen Central Manager of the Indonesian Pharmacist Association), Agustini Setiyorini (labor representative), and Narti (merchant representative).

In addition, it appears that COVID-19 Handling Task Force Spokesperson Prof. Wiku Adisasmito and dr. Reisa Asmo Subroto participated in this initial vaccination.

For information, the government puts forward the principle of prudence in implementing this COVID-19 vaccination program. Not only waiting for the exit of the emergency use permit BPOM and mui halal fatwa, a number of other requirements that must be taken by the recipients of the vaccine are also really considered.

From a number of names above, it is known that there are some prospective recipients who under medical conditions have not been able to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine this time. This is a form of prudence to ensure the safety and security of vaccine recipients.

(Sato) OMIKAMI-TV