VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian Army (TNI AD) will extend assistance to the Health Ministry in implementing the national COVID-19 vaccination program, Army Chief of Staff General Andika Perkasa stated.

"The Indonesian Army’s medical workers will assist the Health Ministry in the COVID-19 vaccination activities," Perkasa noted in the Indonesian Army's press statement released on Tuesday.

General Perkasa made the statement while receiving Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin at the Army's Headquarters.

At the meeting, both sides held discussions on continuing the national vaccination program in the country. Furthermore, the health minister urged the Army chief of staff to task medical personnel with assisting the ministry in vaccinating Indonesians against coronavirus.

"I need TNI's assistance to administer the COVID-19 vaccine jabs. Hence, if all TNI personnel have been vaccinated, they can assist (us) in the COVID-19 vaccination activities," the minister remarked.

According to data from the Task Force for COVID-19 Handling, as of May 2, 2021, the cumulative count of the number of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia had reached 1,677,274, of which 1,530,718 had recovered, while 45,796 patients had succumbed to the virus.

Meanwhile, injections of the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered to 12,457,164 people, and 7,678,485 million residents had completed their vaccination, with the receipt of two doses.

The government plans to vaccinate 181.5 million citizens to build herd immunity against COVID-19. (Antaranews)