VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

A worker checks oxygen concentrators at the Lebak Buluk Street, South Jakarta, on Friday (Jun 24) ANTARA FOTO/Reno Esnir/aww - 

The Jakarta Provincial Health Office has made assurance of sufficient stocks of oxygen concentrators in the wake of a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in the capital in recent weeks.

Head of the Jakarta Provincial Health Office Widyastuti confirmed on Saturday that her office had coordinated with relevant agencies to ensure the supply of oxygen concentrators to hospitals.

"We have coordinated with the Industry, Trade, and Small and Medium Business Office and oxygen suppliers and producers. In essence, oxygen is produced in adequate quantities," Widyastuti remarked while observing the COVID-19 vaccination of residents at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium in Jakarta.

The health office is also cooperating with suppliers of oxygen concentrators to distribute them whenever the need arises, Widyastuti revealed.

"We are always in contact (with them) when we encounter an obstacle related to the limited number of personnel. Our personnel are ready to help them reach hospitals," she remarked.

The Industry Ministry had earlier made assurance of sufficient stocks of domestic oxygen concentrators to handle the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in the country.

"In essence, there is no scarcity of oxygen concentrators, as their stocks are sufficient to meet the high demand arising from a surge in COVID-19 cases," Industry Ministry’s spokesman, Febri Hendri, noted in a written statement released on Thursday.

Jakarta registered the highest number of daily infections at 4,693 on Wednesday, followed by 2,910 in West Java, 2,595 in Central Java, 873 in East Java, 694 in Yogyakarta, and 330 in Riau.

The highest number of daily recoveries was recorded at 2,032 in Central Java, followed by 1,191 in Jakarta, 1,030 in West Java, 422 in East Java, 315 in Riau, and 279 in Riau Islands//ANT

Minister of Communication and Information (Kominfo) Johnny G. Plate. (ANTARA/Screenshot of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology TV) - 

Minister of Communication and Information (Kominfo) Johnny G. Plate urged the public and vaccination organizers to protect personal data.

"As it involves personal data, I expected the vaccination program to protect the personal data of participants well. We have prepared legal protection by issuing a Decree of the Minister of Communication and Informatics," Plate remarked after observing vaccinations for media workers here on Friday.

Vaccination organizers are necessitated to maintain and ensure the protection of people's personal data properly.

After being vaccinated, the public will receive a digital certificate as proof of having participated in the COVID-19 vaccination program.

The digital certificate of COVID-19 vaccination can be downloaded on the PeduliLindungi application after registering the Indonesian resident identity card or NIK number.

The certificate contains personal data, such as full name, date of birth, and NIK number. The certificate also carries a QR code that contains personal data when scanned.

Plate urged the public to not share the QR code after undergoing vaccination, so that their personal data is not misused.

"Do not upload the certificate on social media, as it has a QR code. In the QR code, there is personal data. When we get the digital certificate, we need to protect it by not sharing it for improper purposes," Plate cautioned.

The minister explained that the COVID-19 vaccination certificate can only be given for special purposes, for instance, when the document is requested during a business trip or other urgent activities.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia has been quite high in recent times. Hence, Plate has called on the public to not panic, fear, or become pessimistic but to be consistent in applying health protocols in an orderly and disciplined manner.

"This is since it is a very effective way to prevent transmission. The health protocol is very important to be implemented in the midst of a fairly high transmission rate. However, this rate should not make us fearful and pessimistic," the minister emphasized//ANT

Government mulls Sinovac, Pfizer vaccines for children - 

The Indonesian Health Ministry is considering the use of Sinovac and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines for children aged below 18.

"We are studying vaccines that already have emergency-use authorization (EUA) for young people," Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said at an online press conference that was broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel here on Friday.

Sinovac has been approved for the 3-17 age group, while Pfizer has obtained approval for the 12-17 age group, he noted.

The ministry has discussed the COVID-19 vaccination of children with the Indonesia Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI), Sadikin said.

The government is also monitoring how countries in Europe and Asia, and also the United States are conducting COVID-19 vaccinations of children, he added.

“(The government is tracking data such as) To which group of people they give the vaccine, hence we can issue a comprehensive policy based on (vaccine) usage data from other countries, and also scientific data of emergency authorization issued for the two vaccine producers," he informed.

Based on global data, he said, 99 percent of COVID-19 cases in the under 18 age group can be cured.

China has approved the emergency use of Sinovac’s COVID-19 vaccine for children as young as three, Sinovac Biotech Ltd has confirmed.

Canada, the US, and the EU have already authorized the Pfizer vaccine for children as young as 12, while the UK has recently approved the use of Pfizer’s vaccine in children aged 12 to 15//ANT

Groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the maritime training center at the  Batam Navy Base on Friday. (ANTARA/HO-Kedubes AS di Jakarta) - 

Indonesia and the United States have commenced work on building a maritime training center that will cost millions of dollars.

Indonesian Maritime Security Board (Bakamla RI) Deputy for Policy and Strategy Rear Admiral Tatit E. Witjaksono and US Ambassador to Indonesia Sung Y. Kim led the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the maritime training center at the Batam Navy Base on Friday.

Witjaksono noted that Bakamla RI will own and operate the training center.

"This training center will serve as an important facility for Bakamla to improve the competence of its personnel in answering the challenges to its tasks to ensure security and safety at sea,” he affirmed.

The maritime training center, to be constructed at a cost of US$3.5 million (nearly Rp50.55 billion), is the result of collaboration between Bakamla RI, the US Coast Guard, the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Section (INL) of the US Embassy, Joint Interagency Task Force West, US Indo-Pacific Command, and US Navy Technical Facility Command.

"The training center will comprise class rooms, office rooms, barrack, kitchen, and ship launch pad. This place can accommodate 50 students and 12 instructors," he revealed.

Ambassador Kim affirmed that the initiative was part of the US’ continued efforts to collaborate with Indonesia in fighting international crimes by offering equipment, support, training, and technical assistance to BakamlaRI since its inauguration in 2014.

“As a friendly country and partner of Indonesia, the United States remains committed to supporting the main role of Indonesia in promoting regional peace and security by fighting domestic and international crimes,” Kim noted in a statement issued by the US Embassy in Jakarta on Friday//ANT