TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo asked SOE Minister Erick Thohir and the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Kominfo) to develop an effective public communication strategy related to the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines and immunization.

"It is important to well prepare the public communication strategy [on the COVID-19 vaccine]. I ask the SOE Minister's team to develop it and the Kominfo Ministry to back it up," said the President during a limited meeting at Merdeka Palace on Monday, October 26, 2020.

Jokowi asked his staff to disseminate the benefits of vaccines and the road map of immunization to the public comprehensively. "So there will be no misinformation and hoax news spreading on various media platforms," the President underlined.

Jokowi also asked the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and other religious organizations, such as Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, to be involved in the efforts and convince the public about the halal status of the vaccine.

Jokowi has repeatedly emphasized the importance of public communication strategy regarding the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines and mass immunization, starting from the priority targets, halal status, quality, up to the distribution, which he said must be disclosed in detail.

"About who will get the injection first and why, about who will get it free should be explained to the public," he said.

DEWI NURITA