JAKARTA: President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) was administered the second shot of Sinovac’s Covid-19 vaccine at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Before being given the vaccine’s second dose, the president got his vital signs checked, akin to the protocol followed before his first coronavirus vaccine injection on January 13.
“After the first vaccination on January 13, two weeks ago, today, I got the second shot of the vaccine. Similar to the first one two weeks ago, I did not feel anything. Only some muscle aches after two hours, and I can engage in normal activities,” Jokowi remarked after receiving his second vaccine injection.
The head of state admitted that the number of people being vaccinated is still low.
“This was just the beginning, started from the doctors and nurses, and as of today, we have at least 250 thousand (being vaccinated). The number has sharply increased in the past two days,” Jokowi stated.
According to the Health Ministry, 161,959 medical workers received the Covid-19 vaccine shot as of January 25.
The ministry has targeted 1.48 million medical workers to receive the vaccine, and of the target, 1.45 million were re-registered for the inoculation.
“With more than 30 thousand vaccinators in 10 thousand public health centres (Puskesmas) and three thousand hospitals, we hope that 900 thousand to one million people would be vaccinated. However, this will need time and good management, as I always conveyed to the Health Minister,” Jokowi stated.
By mid-February of 2021, people could start getting the vaccine.
“First, we prioritise medical workers and thereafter the military and police personnel and public service officers. I hope by mid-February, all people can get (the vaccine),” he stated.
Other public figures to have received the second dosage of the vaccine comprised Chairman of the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) Daeng M. Faqih, Secretary General of the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) Amiesyah Tambunan, advisory leader of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) KH Ahmad Ishomuddin, Indonesian Military Commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, Police Chief Gen. Idham Azis, and celebrity Raffi Ahmad.
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, head of the Food and Drug Control Agency (BPOM) Penny Kusumastuti, Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Rosan Roeslani Perkasa, and Secretary General of the Indonesian Midwives Association Ade Zubaedah also received the second shot of the vaccine.
The Sinovac-made CoronaVac vaccine should be administered twice at an interval of 14 days, with each inoculation dose of 0.5 millilitres.
Jokowi received the first shot of the Sinovac vaccine on January 13. He was the first Indonesian to have been administered the vaccine.
