Indonesian Embassy in the United States Holds Covid-19 Vaccination for Indonesians

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia to the United States in Washington DC, has held a Covid-19 vaccination drive for Indonesian nationals in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia (DMV).

Held in collaboration with Indonesian community organizations and local health agencies in the US last Saturday, the step is part of the embassy's protection diplomacy for Indonesian citizens abroad.

"Among the Indonesian organizations who participated in this vaccine drive are the Indonesian American Association (IAA), Tiyang Jawi Association Washington DC, and Rumpun Warga Pasundan USA," the Embassy said in a press release.

"We also engaged local institutions like the Fairfax County Health Department and Neighborhood Health."

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The Embassy's Minister Counselor for Protocol Functions, Gustaav Ferdinandus pointed out that the mass vaccination "aims to maximize protection and expand access to the Covid-19 vaccine for Indonesian citizens and Indonesian Diaspora [overseas Indonesians] in the US."

"The [vaccination drive] is a good example of cooperation between the Indonesian Embassy in Washington DC, local government institutions in the US, and Indonesian community organizations," he asserted of the initiative, which uses the Pfizer vaccine.

"We hope this and other initiatives will continue to the benefit of Indonesian nationals."

This participants welcomed the vaccination drive's easy, practical registration process. To get a vaccination, they only need to go to the venue and show their identity card or passport.

"I have been greatly helped by this program, because I have had difficulty in registering and trying to find a time to fit in between working hours," said Mrs. Janna, an Indonesian national who lives in Maryland.

Also read: President Jokowi Reiterates Covid-19 Is Not Over Yet

"The scheduling for the vaccination program and the vaccination process itself which is arranged by Neighborhood Health with the walk-in system really does wonders," she said.

Adults are not the only ones to reap the benefits of the mass vaccination. The US Food and Drug Administration [USFDA] has authorized the use of the Pfizer vaccine to vaccinate children aged 12 years and up since May 10, 2021.

For Indonesian citizens with children aged 12 years and up, the policy clearly does wonders. "The vaccination process is very clear and simple for me and my children," said Ms. Yoni, another Indonesian citizen who accompanied her four children to get their vaccination.

The Indonesian Embassy hopes the vaccination drive will be the first of many health programs carried out between Indonesian community organizations and state level medical agencies and services in the United States. 

(Writer: Dian Erika Nugraheny | Editor: Bayu Galih)

Source:

https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/05/24/11122491/kbri-washington-gelar-vaksinasi-covid-19-untuk-wni-di-as?page=all#page2.