President Jokowi seeking booster vaccination rollout in January 2022: Coordinating Minister Airlangga

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President Jokowi seeking booster vaccination rollout in January 2022: Coordinating Minister Airlangga

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, addresses the press after attending a limited meeting on Monday (December 6, 2021). ANTARA/HO-Press Bureau of Presidential Secretariat/Rusman/uyu

Hence, children's vaccination must be encouraged.

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has asked his administration to prepare booster vaccinations, which are planned to be administered to Indonesians starting January 2022, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, said here on Monday.

“Currently, we are resolving the mechanism for the provision of vaccines to fund assistance recipients (PBI) and non-PBI of the National Health Insurance program," he informed after attending a limited meeting on the evaluation of community activity restrictions (PPKM) chaired by President Jokowi.

The President has also urged that vaccinations of vulnerable people and children who have not been vaccinated be expedited, Hartarto said.

The attempt is crucial to curb the transmission of the new COVID-19 variant called Omicron which, according to studies, has infected many children, he explained.

"Hence, children's vaccination must be encouraged," the coordinating minister emphasized.

Furthermore, Jokowi has also asked his staff to continue evaluating and monitoring the development of the new virus variant, which has been detected in 45 countries, he said.

Anticipating the spread of COVID-19 ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays, Hartarto—who is also the Coordinator for PPKM outside Java-Bali—informed that the President has ordered that any activity be attended by a maximum of 50 people.

“Meanwhile, the maximum capacity at restaurants is 75 percent, and only vaccinated people are allowed to travel," he added.

However, the restrictions amid the Christmas and New Year holidays will be further adjusted the to World Health Organization’s advice and regulated in the Instructions of the Home Affairs Minister, he said.

The WHO has urged all countries to implement genome sequencing analysis and restrict community activities to anticipate the transmission of the new Omicron variant, he added.

As of Monday, no Omicron infections had been detected in Indonesia, he added.

The government has banned nationals from 11 countries -- South Africa, Botswana, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini, Lesotho, and Hong Kong -- from entering Indonesia.

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