TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Metro Police Head of Public Relations, Sr. Comr. Yusri Yunus, said nearly 96 percent of people in the capital have received at least the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine since the Merdeka Vaccination program was launched in early August 2021. With the figure, Yusri said herd immunity started to be developed according to the WHO standard.

“Before the launching of the Merdeka Vaccination program on August 1, 84.55 percent of Jakarta's population had been vaccinated against Covid-19. It is now nearly 96 percent,” said Yusri in his statement on Thursday, August 11.

The high vaccination rate, Yusri opined, played a vital role in reducing the number of virus transmissions. On August 7, the number of daily cases hit around 2,008 from the previous daily figure at between 5,000-7,000.

“This is because most of them have been vaccinated,” Yusri said.

Jakarta Metro Police opened 687 vaccination centers in 900 community units or RW in a bid to provide easy access to those who have not received vaccines. The police also collaborated with the online ojek platform Gojek to provide free rides to the vaccination site.

Yusri said his side aimed at administering the Covid-19 vaccines to 3 million residents. “Hopefully, by August 17, 100 percent of the Jakarta residents will have been vaccinated against Covid-19 as a gift for the independence day,” he said.

Read: Jakarta Raises Covid-19 Vaccination Target to 11 Million

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH