COVID-19 Vaccine Distributed in Phases

KOMPAS/LARASWATI ARIADNE ANWAR

Elderly people wait in line outside the Health Ministry training center on Jl. Hang Jebat in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, on Tuesday. They received a message broadcast on WhatsApp notifying recipients of free vaccinations for elderly people in the area. However, it turned out that the free vaccine was being offered only to elderly people with South Jakarta-registered ID cards and that the number was limited to 1,000 people per day.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Although it is not the key to handling COVID-19, vaccinations are a preventative measure that must still be done optimally. The vaccination rollout for both the government program and the Gotong Royong scheme is being carried out in phases.

Aside from ensuring sufficient stock of the vaccine, its distribution and administration to the public must also run smoothly to support the success of the vaccination programs.

PT Bio Farma retail and service head Mahsun Muhammadi said, in Jakarta, Tuesday (8/6/2021), that there are currently a sufficient number of vaccines available to reach the target of one million inoculations per day. However, the smoothness of the vaccination process is not only determined by the availability of the vaccines.

“What needs to be addressed in the vaccination process is the sufficient number of vaccines, distribution and the implementation. Indeed, these three important things must go together so that the vaccine program can run smoothly,” he said.

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For the vaccination program, the available vaccine stock has been produced by PT Bio Farma from Sinovac’s bulk stock and AstraZeneca’s ready-to-use stock. Meanwhile, the Gotong Royong program is using the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Sinopharm.

Indonesia has now received a total of 500,000 doses of Sinopharm’s COVID-19 vaccine. According to the plan, as many as one million doses will be sent again by Sinopharm on 10-16 June 2021.

Priority

University of Indonesia clinical microbiology professor Pratiwi Pudjilestari Sudarmono said that the provision of the limited availability of the vaccines requires prioritization. Indonesia’s COVID-19 vaccination programs have been deemed systematic and on schedule.

This can be seen from the prioritization of health workers and the elderly as vaccine recipients. Those at the age of 50 years and up are now able to receive the vaccine in several areas. Thus, people who have had their turn to be vaccinated are expected to receive it immediately.

“There are two ways to avoid COVID-19, namely adhering to health protocols and vaccination. If there is an opportunity to get vaccinated, then do so immediately. Do not be picky about the vaccines because all vaccines that have received an emergency permit are safe and effective,” said Pratiwi.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

A health worker gives a first COVID-19 vaccine dose to a vendor at Blok A Tanah Abang Market in Central Jakarta on Monday (1/3/2021). Many vendors welcomed the vaccination, and there was a long line to register. More than 23,000 vendors and management staff registered for the vaccination drive, which ran until March 2.

Education and the familiarization of the vaccines using language that is easy to understand and can persuade the public also needs to be intensified.

A cultural approach can be implemented according to the given conditions in each region. “Because we are surrounded by various ethnic groups with various cultures, it is important that [education] is translated through culture. Education is part of the key to mass vaccination in Indonesia,” said Pratiwi.

However, ahead of face-to-face learning in July, the lack of coverage of COVID-19 inoculations for teachers and education staff has triggered concerns from several teacher organizations.

“Teachers understand that there is a big threat of learning loss. However, the irony is that teacher vaccination in the regions has been slow. We urge the acceleration of vaccinations for teachers and education staff," said Iman Zanatul Haeri, Indonesian Educators and Teachers Association advocacy head, some time ago.

The aim of vaccinations is to reduce the burden on healthcare.

World Health Organization (WHO) Indonesia immunization officer Olivi Silalahi added that the public must be aware that vaccinations are one of the ways to keep the public healthcare system afloat amid a pandemic. The aim of vaccinations is to reduce the burden on healthcare.

“These vaccinations are to save lives, especially in risk groups. Thus, vaccinations must also be accompanied by adhering to the 3M health protocols [wearing masks, washing hands and maintaining distance] and 3T [testing, tracking and isolation]. Everything has to be done simultaneously,” said Olivi.

Regional vaccinations

Several regions in Indonesia are currently facing a surge in COVID-19 cases. As the second province with the highest increase in COVID-19 cases three weeks after the Idul Fitri holiday, the Riau Islands COVID-19 task force has expanded its integrated quarantine locations and accelerated vaccinations across all districts and cities.

So far, 230,000 people have been vaccinated. This figure is still far from the Riau Islands administration’s vaccination target of 700,000 people by the end of June.

“We are constantly trying to speed up vaccinations across all districts/cities. Currently, willing residents can go directly to the nearest puskesmas [health community center] to be vaccinated,” said Riau Islands Health Agency head Mohammad Bisri.

Riau Islands still has 140,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in stock. Bisri said that the entire vaccine stock must be administered to residents within two weeks.

On June 5, Riau Islands Deputy Governor Marlin Agustina stated that they hope that the supply of vaccines from the central government can continue smoothly so vaccinations in the region can be accelerated.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

People wait for their turns to get Covid-19 vaccine shots at the RSUD Kembangan hospital in West Jakarta, on Tuesday (23/2/2021). One hundred seventy-three elderly people had been registered to get their vaccine shots at that hospital on Tuesday (23/2/2021). The target for the second phase of the vaccination program is to inoculate more than 38 million people, which includes 17.4 million people working in public and essential services and 21.5 million elderly.

Marlin also hoped that residents can be proactive and do not fear going to the nearest puskesmas to get vaccinated.

However, Marlin also reminded residents who have already been vaccinated to remain disciplined in implementing health protocols. Restricting mobility, using masks and maintaining distance are important to avoid the transmission of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, East Nusa Tenggara Health Agency head Messerasi Ataupah said that COVID-19 inoculation coverage in the region is still low. This is due to the limited supply of vaccines from the Health Ministry. Of the vaccination target of around 400,000 people, only about 160,000 people have been inoculated.

(This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia).