To support anticipation of the spread of COVID-19 and increase inclusive vaccination coverage, the Australia Indonesia Partnership Program for Health Resilience (AIHSP) through Save the Children Indonesia and the IDEP Foundation organized two vaccination activities in two different districts on the same day.
COVID-19 vaccination of prospective Jembrana pilgrims
The location for the vaccination on Sunday, 7 May 2023, held at the Office of the Ministry of Religion of Jembrana Regency. Jembrana I Health Center assisted in providing vaccinations for Hajj pilgrims. For information, COVID-19 vaccination is an essential requirement for traveling abroad.
The target is for the COVID-19 vaccination to reach 20 people. But there were only eight people who managed to accept it. One of the factors was the several registered vaccination recipients who could not receive vaccinations at that time. Also, the rest are delayed due to an inadequate amount of tension. However, a total of four older people managed to receive the vaccination this time.
“Earlier, it just so happened that our target was the Hajj Pilgrims who wanted to leave but had not received a booster vaccine. It turned out that some had not been vaccinated because historically some had high blood pressure, so they still could not get the vaccine,” said Ni Putu Olivia Yoanita, a health worker.
These activities are smooth. Since this morning at 08.00 WITA, several potential vaccination recipients were already at the location, including four health workers involved in this vaccination activity. The vaccination event ended at 12.00 WITA.
COVID-19 vaccination with Gerkatin in Buleleng
The COVID-19 vaccination activity was also held at the Secretariat of the Indonesian Movement for the Welfare of the Deaf (Gerkatin) in Banyuning, Singaraja. This vaccination is located in collaboration with the DPC Gerkatin Buleleng and the Buleleng III Health Center. The event was held from 10.00-12.30 WITA.
There are ten health workers involved this time. The target is for 45 people to get the COVID-19 vaccination. Unfortunately, only 27 people received the vaccine injection; the rest had high blood pressure and comorbidities.
Susila (29) is one of the vaccination recipients. He had been waiting for this opportunity after the first vaccine. This man is a rice farmer and buffalo breeder. He came with another friend. Unlike his friends, he is still at the 2nd dose of vaccination, not yet at the stage of receiving a booster dose. So far, he admits that vaccines have never had any side effects.
Abdur (42), a casual laborer, has a different experience. He had felt sore after the vaccination, although he didn’t have a fever. This third child of 5 siblings has not received any vaccinations since the first dose. In addition, he also has a deaf disability.
From July to 7 May 2023, the Inclusive COVID-19 Vaccination carried out by AIHSP with Save the Children and IDEP in Bali has reached 43,836 people. Among them are 12,715 older people, 645 people with disabilities, and 2018 minority groups.
Article: Nicolaus Sulistyo
Photo: Ni Putu Olivia Yoanita © IDEP Foundation
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