By: Fikri Arfiansyah)*
Indonesia achieved an achievement because its Covid-19 vaccination coverage was ranked 4th in the world. This is an honor, because it shows the government’s seriousness in eradicating the corona virus and implementing a national vaccination program.
The pandemic has turned our conditions upside down and the government is trying hard so that this situation does not drag on. To prevent the severity of the pandemic, one of the strategies is a national vaccination program. This program is increasingly being boosted because more and more people are vaccinated, of course, more and more are immune from the Covid-19 virus (provided that they comply with health protocols).
The government’s hard work in carrying out vaccinations has paid off. As of January 4, 2022, Indonesia was declared the 4th country with the most coverage of the corona vaccination, which was more than 283 million doses for the target of 166 million people. The first country to achieve vaccination coverage was China, followed by India and the United States.
When the vaccination coverage in Indonesia has reached more than 283 million doses, more than 60% of the population has been vaccinated. If the national vaccination program is further boosted, then by the end of 2022 group immunity will be achieved, because all Indonesian citizens have been injected with the vaccine. This immunity is coveted because it can erase the painful pandemic status.
The large vaccination coverage is the result of the government’s strategies in accelerating the national vaccination program. First, the corona vaccine is given for free, so many people want to be injected (as long as they don’t have to pay like in other countries). The government understands that the condition of the people during the pandemic is so sad, so that free vaccines can help them.
Second, vaccination is carried out en masse. If at the beginning of the national vaccination program it was only held at the health center or hospital, now vaccinations are always held in the field, hall, or other place that can accommodate a large number of people. Organizers of mass vaccination are usually from the authorities and there are also private parties.
Interestingly, it is now common for vaccinations to be held in shopping centers. This is to attract people who are shopping, so that those who have not been vaccinated can register. On the other hand, when those who initially intended to be vaccinated, would eat at the food court and shop at the mall, resulting in a symbiotic mutualism.
Vaccinations are also held door to door. This program, which was initiated by the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), brings vaccination cars and health workers closer to the community, so that they can be injected without having to go to the hospital or other mass vaccination locations. In this way, it is hoped that more people will be vaccinated.
The more people who have been vaccinated, the more people who have immunity, so they are not easily infected with the corona virus. Health is the main capital because if you are healthy you can work happily.
Vaccination coverage must indeed be enlarged because the target is to complete it in 18 months after March 2021, so it is estimated that by September 2022 100% of Indonesian citizens have been vaccinated. To achieve the target, the injection was increased, from 1 million to 3 million per day throughout Indonesia.
The government also makes rules so that everyone wants to be vaccinated, so that the vaccination coverage gets bigger. For example, when there is face-to-face learning, students must be vaccinated first. In addition, the teachers must also be vaccinated.
When Indonesia becomes the 4th country to achieve the largest vaccination coverage in the world then this is a great achievement. This shows the success of the national vaccination program in Indonesia. All Indonesian citizens are also orderly and willing to be vaccinated with pleasure.
)* The author is a student of IISIP Jakarta
