PALANGKA RAYA – EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION BUREAU. Mass vaccination for students in Palangka Raya was held today, Saturday (17/7/2021), at SMAN 1 Palangka Raya. This first mass vaccination for students was attended by 150 students aged 12-18 years, with details of 100 students from SMAN 1 Palangka Raya and 50 students from SMPN 3 Palangka Raya. The mass vaccination was held under the coordination of the Regional National Intelligence Agency of Central Kalimantan in collaboration with Central Kalimantan Provincial Health Office.

A number of members of Regional Leadership Coordination Forum of Central Kalimantan also visited the vaccination site, those were the Police Chief of Central Kalimantan Inspector General Dedy Prasetyo, Police Deputy Chief of Central Kalimantan Brigadier General Ida Oetari Poernamasasi, 102/Pjg Military Regional Command Brigadier General Purwo Sudaryanto, and Head of Regional National Intelligence Agency of Central Kalimantan Brigadier General TNI Sinyo, accompanied by the Head of Central Kalimantan Health Office, Suyuti Syamsul and Acting Head of Central Kalimantan Education Office, Ahmad Syaefudi.

Head of Regional National Intelligence Agency of Central Kalimantan Brigadier General Sinyo as the coordinator of this activity said that student vaccination was in accordance with President Joko Widodo’s directives and orders where State Intelligence Agency (BIN) participated in overseeing the implementation of the vaccination. “Therefore, we Regional National Intelligence Agency of Central Kalimantan accompanied by Regional Leadership Coordination Forum of Central Kalimantan, the Health Office, and the Education Office also carried out the mass vaccination today at SMA 1 Palangka Raya. As we all know that Covid-19 is now increasing, especially among millennials. And, if they are exposed, these millennials require relatively longer hospitalization times. Therefore, it is important to vaccinate students,” he said.

Furthermore, Sinyo also hopes that student vaccination activity will continue to be held on an ongoing basis in order to face the pandemic and create herd immunity among the younger generation.

Meanwhile, Acting Head of Central Kalimantan Education Office, Ahmad Syaefudi, in his remarks reported that as of June 28, 2021, vaccination for teachers and education personnel had reached 85 percent in Central Kalimantan. “Governor wants herd immunity to be achieved perfectly, so he recommends that parents of students, teachers, education staff, and students get vaccinated. Alhamdulillah, teachers and parents of students have been vaccinated. We hope that later, the limited face-to-face learning can be carried out well,” said Ahmad Syaefudi.

Regarding the limited face-to-face learning plan which was originally scheduled for July 12, Ahmad Syaefudi in front of the media crew said that the plan was postponed because the spread of Covid-19 was increasing, so it was feared that the health and safety of the community would be disrupted. “We have postponed it until the next 2 weeks, July 24. On the 20th, we will review the condition of the regional zone status. If possible, we will report it to the leadership. School is ready. The limited face-to-face learning consists of 50% face-to-face learning and 50% online learning. This is an adjustment, continuous adaptation,” he said, adding that the institution he leads is ready to coordinate with the Regency/Municipality Government in preparing places and mobilizing students for vaccination.

During the interview with a number of media, the Head of Central Kalimantan Health Office, Suyuti Syamsul, also said that of the target of 2,080,000 people, approximately 450 thousand people have received the vaccine (20% of the target). From the total population, vaccination only reached 16%. “We are trying to reach 70% by October 31, 2021. However, our speed depends on the availability of vaccines as well. If it comes gradually, we will also adjust its implementation,” he said.

The first mass vaccination for students was carried out by the team from TNI Hospital for students of SMAN 1 Palangka Raya and team from Biddokkes of Central Kalimantan Police for students of SMPN 3 Palangka Raya. (dew/ran/ben/translated by feb)