Vulnerable Groups, Accelerated Covid-19 Vaccination for People with Disabilities

The Ministry of Health has accelerated the implementation of vaccinations for persons with disabilities in six provinces in Java and Bali. The six provinces are Banten, West Java, Central Java, Jogjakarta, East Java and Bali. It is expected that as many as 225,000 vaccination targets have been vaccinated in October 2021.

In a recent statement from the Ministry of Health, Head of the Bureau of Communication and Community Services, Widyawati, said that the acceleration of vaccination for people with disabilities in Java and Bali uses the Sinopharm vaccine obtained through a grant mechanism from the King of the United Arab Emirates as many as 450 thousand doses. Vaccinations are given through health care facilities and Covid-19 vaccination centers.

In its implementation, the Ministry of Health cooperates with the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs for data collection and registration of the NIK of the disability target group. The Disability group itself is included in the stage 3 target, namely the vulnerable community.

Overall, there are 562,242 vaccination targets for groups of people with disabilities throughout Indonesia. Previously, the Ministry of Health had issued a Circular stating that persons with disabilities could be served in any health facility/vaccination center and not limited to the domicile address of the ID card. This is in accordance with the Circular of the Minister of Health No. HK.02.01/MENKES/598/2021 Regarding the Acceleration of the Implementation of COVID-19 Vaccination for the Elderly, People with Disabilities, as well as Educators, and Education Personnel.

“Of course, vaccination activities run in collaboration with communities, local organizations, and the private sector to mobilize the elderly and people with disabilities, register, and arrange shuttle transportation for the elderly and people with disabilities to health care facilities where the Covid-19 vaccination service is located. “said the Head of the Communication and Public Service Bureau of the Ministry of Health, Widyawati.

The Ministry of Health has also issued Circular Letter number HK.02.02/III/15242/2021 regarding the Implementation of COVID-19 Vaccination for Vulnerable Communities and Other Communities Who Do not Have a Population Identification Number. The Circular is addressed to all Heads of Provincial, Regency and City Health Offices.

“The spirit that we want to maintain here is that all Indonesian people are protected from exposure to the Covid-19 virus,” concluded Widyawati.