TNI Holds Vaccination in Indonesia-Malaysia Border Area

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI)'s 1206 Putussibau military regional command holds vaccination for 185 residents living near the Indonesia-Malaysia border area in Batang Lupar Sub-district, Kapuas Hulu Dustruct, West Kalimantan Province.

"The mass vaccination program is implemented in cooperation with the TNI, Polri (Indonesia's Police), Puskesman (community health center), and the community who are quite enthusiastic," First Lieutenant Assistant Timur Edy, commander of the Batang Lupar Sub-district military office, said on Saturday..

Timur said that he only received 10 vials of vaccine, while the public was enthusiastic about getting the shots to prevent the COVID-19 infections.

He expressed his hope to receive more vials of COVID-19 vaccine to outreach more residents in the border area, in accordance with the instruction of President Joko Widodo.

"Mass vaccination is one of our efforts to break the chain of the COVID-19 spread. Of course, in handling the pandemic, we need synergy from all parties, including the community," he noted.

He called on the public in border area to increase awareness and remain vigilant against the COVID-19 transmission. Indonesia saw a record increase in daily COVID-19 cases on July 3, 2021, with 27,913 new infections and 493 deaths reported across the country. The number of single-day recoveries stood at 13,282, while active cases were pegged at 281,677.

Since the government announced the first COVID-19 cases on March 2, 2020, the tally of infections has so far reached 2,256,851, while the death toll has touched 60,027.

With the second COVID-19 wave leading to a drastic spike in infections in several regions, particularly Jakarta and other cities on Java Island, the Indonesian government has imposed restrictions on public activities starting July 3 until 20, 2021.

Read also: Over 13.92 Million Indonesians Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19

ANTARA