VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Mar. 16 - Indonesian President Joko Widodo expressed optimism that the economy in Bali would soon recover in line with the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination program.

"We expect the economy of Bali to soon rise when vaccination continues to be conducted every day," the president remarked while observing the mass vaccination in Gianyar, Bali, here on Tuesday, as witnessed virtually from Jakarta.

The president expressed gratitude that the COVID-19 vaccination can be conducted simultaneously at the provincial, district, and city levels in Bali.

The president noted that if the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak had reduced in the province, then the stages that the local government would design to open up the economic sector in Bali could start to be implemented one after the other.

"This especially applies to the tourism sector in Bali, so that it can return to normal," the president stated.

However, the head of state noted that for now, several stages still had to be conducted to reach a normal situation. The head of state is optimistic that all parties would remain sentient of the different possibilities. (Antaranews)

Mar. 16 - All athletes competing in the Indonesian Basket League (IBL) in Robinson Resort, Bogor, West Java, were administered the COVID-19 vaccination.

The inoculation mirrors the support of the Youth and Sports Ministry and Health Ministry to safeguard athletes against COVID-19 and to boost their self-confidence to compete in the event amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We have fulfilled the pledge to vaccinate IBL participants (against the COVID-19). Data (of the athletes) were received three weeks ago and were later processed at the Health Ministry," Secretary of the Youth and Sports Ministry Gatot S. Dewa Broto noted in a press statement released on Tuesday.

"May the vaccination have a constructive impact on the athletes' immunity because there (at the arena) they follow the highly stringent health protocols," he remarked.

Amartha Hangtuah athlete Abraham Wenas admitted to feeling more confident to compete in the event after having received his second shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.

"Of course, I am happy. This is the second vaccine I have received. I was administered the first shot of the vaccine along with my friends. I am happy because this vaccine has raised my confidence during the pandemic. However, this does not reduce my awareness to follow the health protocols," he remarked.

IBL 2021 kicked off on March 10, 2021, and will complete its first series on March 17, 2021. The second series will commence on March 18, 2021. (Antaranews)

Mar. 16 - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) departed for Bali Province on Tuesday morning to observe the mass COVID-19 inoculation program being implemented in Gianyar District and Denpasar City.

The president along with a limited entourage departed from the Halim Perdanakusuma Airbase in Jakarta at 8:30 a.m. local time aboard presidential aircraft Indonesia-1.

Upon arrival at the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Badung District, Bali, the president will head to the location where mass vaccination is being conducted for tourism workers, religious figures, cultural and youth representatives as well as local residents in Gianyar District

The head of state will later observe the mass vaccination of tourism workers in Denpasar City.

The president is scheduled to return to Jakarta on Tuesday evening.

The president's entourage comprised Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Presidential Military Secretary Rear Marshal M. Tonny Harjono, Commander of the Presidential Security Detail Major General Agus Subiyanto, Presidential Special Staff Ari Dwipayana, and Presidential Secretariat's Deputy for Protocol, Press, and Media Bey Machmudin. (Antaranews)

Mar. 16 - Health Ministry's spokesperson for COVID-19 vaccination Siti Nadia Tarmizi affirmed that it was highly implausible for the government to distribute problematic COVID-19 vaccines to the public.

"The COVID-19 vaccine injected to the public has undergone due diligence and safety tests," Tarmizi noted in a written statement received by ANTARA here on Tuesday.

The statement was made in response to news that the CoronaVac vaccine manufactured by Sinovac Biotech will expire on March 25, 2021.

Siti Nadia ensured that the COVID-19 vaccine given to the public did not expire.

"Regarding the expiration of the Sinovac vaccine, we say that the vaccine that will expire is the first batch of CoronaVac vaccines numbering around 1.2 million doses and 1.8 million doses," she remarked.

She noted that the CoronaVac vaccine was administered to 1.45 million health workers and 50 thousand public service workers.

"We are currently using the vaccine," she remarked.

Furthermore, the ministry’s spokesperson expounded that the CoronaVac vaccine packaged in a small bottle or vial and containing one dosage for one injection would expire.

"Meanwhile, the Sinovac vaccine that we currently use for people over 60 years of age and for public workers is a vaccine that uses large bottle or vials containing 10 doses or can be given to 10 vaccination targets," she remarked.

She also clarified that the Health Ministry had responded to cases of several people abroad that had developed blood clots after being administered the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

"We are waiting for any information from the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) to see if there is a change in the criteria for use. Hence, we are also ensuring complete quality control before distribution," the spokesperson revealed.  (Antaranews)