VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Jokowi during a dialog with the Regional Police Chief and regional leaders via video teleconference while observing the COVID-19 mass vaccination at Bhayangkara Square, Jakarta, Saturday (6/26/2021). (ANTARA/Indra Arief) - 

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has called upon local governments to double the COVID-19 vaccination target to expedite the realization of herd immunity.

Jokowi made the statement during a dialog with regional police chiefs and regional leaders via video teleconference while observing vaccinations at the Bhayangkara Square here on Saturday.

The president sought information regarding the vaccination in Central Java from the province’s Regional Police Chief Inspector General Ahmad Luthfi. The inspector general explained that the COVID-19 vaccination target within the Central Java Regional Police on Saturday had reached 141 thousand vaccine recipients.

"Are you ready to double the vaccination target?" the president asked to which Luthfi agreed.

The president will thereafter instruct Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin to boost supply of the COVID-19 vaccine to Central Java.

"Good, the health minister will prepare the vaccine," the president remarked.

The president then posed the same question to Head of the North Sumatra Regional Police, Inspector General of Police Panca Putra.

Inspector General Putra revealed that vaccination was conducted on Saturday by the police in collaboration with the North Sumatra regional government, targeting 66,790 registered recipients. Some 121 thousand vaccine doses were received for inoculation until June 30, 2021. Meanwhile, COVID-19 vaccination will continue to be conducted in North Sumatra.

"Are you ready to double the vaccination target?" the president asked.

"We are ready, president," the police replied.

The president then threw the same question at the East Kalimantan Regional Police Chief Inspector General of Police Herry Rudolf Nahak.

"Are you ready to double the vaccination target?" the president asked.

"I am ready, president. As the people are also waiting for the vaccination," the East Kalimantan police chief replied.

The head of state lauded the mass COVID-19 vaccination conducted at various Regional Police Headquarters and Regional Military Command (Kodam) in several regions this Saturday.

"I would like to thank you for the mass vaccination agenda that was held simultaneously this morning at all Regional Police, Kodam, in collaboration with the local governments. I hope that starting today, the target of one million vaccines for all of Indonesia can be continued until July and August. We will increase the target to double the current target," the president emphasized//ANT