Indonesia Highlights: Indonesia Begins Mass Covid-19 Jab Drive | Doctor in the Indonesian Province of Papua Self-Injects Covid-19 Vaccine | Jokowi Nominates Only One Name for Police Chief

KOMPAS.com – The much-awaited mass Covid-19 inoculation program began on Wednesday, January 13.

The first person who received the Chinese-made Covid-19 vaccine was President Joko Widodo followed by the top military, police, and medical officials as well as religious leaders.

Besides, a health care worker, businesspeople, and a social media influencer also received the shot.

Meanwhile, in Papua, a doctor has injected himself with the vaccine. Dr. Aaron Rumainum, a medical worker in the provincial capital Jayapura, jabbed the Sinovac vaccine into his upper left arm to convince the people that the vaccine is safe.

Below are excerpts from the stories in Indonesia, curated by Kompas.com editors:

1. Indonesia Begins Mass Covid-19 Jab Drive

Indonesia’s President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Wednesday received the first shot of the Covid-19 vaccine produced by China’s Sinovax, marking the start of the mass Covid-19 inoculation program in the country.

Held in Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Jokowi had his body temperature and blood pressure checked first.

“How is your blood pressure so far?” A presidential doctor asked.

“I’m not sure because I have not checked it for a long time,” the president said, laughing.

The doctor said Jokowi had a normal body temperature at 36.3 degrees Celcius, while his blood pressure was at 130/67 mm Hg.

After Jokowi, top military, police, and medical officials as well as religious leaders also received shots. Besides, a health care worker and a social media influencer also received the vaccine.

It was previously reported that the Covid-19 jab drive aims to vaccinate about 182 million people or 70 percent of the total population after Indonesia authorized the vaccine for emergency use on January 14, with an efficacy rate of 65.3 percent.

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/01/13/09515011/sebelum-disuntik-vaksin-covid-19-jokowi-diperiksa-suhu-dan-tekanan-darah.