VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Feb. 17 - The Indonesian Health Ministry announced that 1,120,963 health workers have received COVID-19 shots as of Tuesday as the government is striving to intensify the nationwide vaccination program to create herd immunity.

About 537,147 of the 1,120,963 health workers have received their second jabs. The ministry has set a target of vaccinating 1,468,764 paramedics across Indonesia.

To attain herd immunity, the government is aiming to vaccinate 70 percent of the total population, or around 181.5 million people.

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has stressed on the need for successfully administering the COVID-19 vaccine to the targeted population to attain herd immunity and free the nation from the clutches of the lethal pandemic.

"This is the largest and most determining vaccination program. It must be successful. We must not fail," Amin stated while speaking at an event held to commend and acknowledge the National Police's public services on Tuesday.

Vice President Amin reiterated that 70 percent of the country's total population must receive the COVID-19 vaccine to achieve herd immunity.

“I again want to emphasize the importance of not failing in implementing the compulsory vaccination program because it is the most effective way to reduce the COVID-19 infection rate and prevent transmission of the coronavirus," he remarked.

Furthermore, people must continue to practice health protocols strictly, he said, while reiterating that the vaccination program is compulsory, as stipulated in Presidential Regulation No. 14 of 2021.

The Indonesian government has been struggling to win the battle against the global pandemic since it announced the country's first confirmed cases on March 2, 2020.

The government has not only enforced restrictions on public activity in the islands of Java and Bali since January 11, 2021, but is also conducting a nationwide vaccination program that commenced on January 13, 2021.

The Health Ministry has revealed earlier that it would take 15 months to vaccinate around 181.5 million people under the national COVID-19 vaccination program.

Since January 26, 2021, Indonesia's COVID-19 infection rate has exceeded one million cases.  (Antaranews)