Indonesia Highlights: Nearly 6 Million Indonesians Have Received Covid-19 Vaccinations | Indonesian Minister of Social Affairs to Overhaul Social Welfare Data | 5G Network Technology Will Enter Indon

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Indonesia’s aim to attain herd immunity by March 2022 has gotten off to a promising start, after the country’s Covid-19 Task Force announced that nearly 6 million Indonesians received their vaccinations in the first quarter of 2021.

Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini has ordered an overhaul of the Ministry’s social welfare data, so as to ensure that the government’s aid programs reach those who need it most.

And Indonesia is set to go to the next stage in telecommunications, as the country is set to go from 4G to 5G within months, if not years. More on these stories on this edition of Indonesia Highlights:

KOMPAS.COM/RAHMAT RAHMAN PATTY A number of reporters in Ambon, Maluku get their Covid-19 vaccinations at the city's Karang Panjang Sporthall, Wednesday (17/3/2021)

Nearly 6 Million Indonesians Have Received Covid-19 Vaccinations

Indonesia’s Covid-19 Task Force has announced that the government’s goal to achieve herd immunity against Covid-19 has gotten off to a good start since the policy began on January 13.

The unit noted that 5.7 million Indonesians have received the first dose of the vaccine, while 2.4 million of them already received the second dose, as of March 20, 2021.

Covid-19 Task Force spokesman Professor Wiku Adisasmito hailed the statistics as “a positive development that should be maintained.” He called on the public to comply with the Covid-19 vaccination program.

“The government has ensured the availability of a safe, high efficacy, halal vaccine with minimum side effects. But if anyone who was vaccinated are experiencing serious side effects, we urge them to go to the nearest health facility,” Wiku added.

“This is needed to ensure the individual’s safety and health, and helps in monitoring post-vaccination health issues.” Indonesia will carry out four waves of vaccinations through March 2022.

The first wave of vaccinations, which was allocated for health workers, started in January 17 through February 16. The second wave of vaccinations started on February 17, and was allocated for civil servants, military and police, as well as the media, and other segments of society.

The third wave that started in March through April is allocated for the elderly aged 59 and up, while the fourth wave in April 2021 to March 2022 is allocated for the general public.

Indonesia aims to vaccinate 70 percent of the country’s population or 182 million people, to gain herd immunity against Covid-19.

Source:

https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/03/23/21302731/satgas-5-juta-warga-telah-divaksinasi-covid-19?page=all#page2. 

KOMPAS.com/USMAN HADI Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini.

Indonesian Minister of Social Affairs to Overhaul Social Welfare Data

Indonesian Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismahari has ordered an overhaul for its social welfare integrated data [DTKS].

Ministry of Social Affairs expert on Social Changes and Dynamics Adhy Karyono said the overhaul is part of reforms on social protection. “The overhaul is designed to ensure that the social aid disbursed to the public will be received by those who need it most. Specifically, 40 percent of people living in the lower bracket of the poverty line,” he asserted on Tuesday.

“One aspect of the reforms deals with amending data. Data is key above everything else.” Adhy added that the DTKS will not just include those living under the poverty line who are out of reach of social welfare programs.

“The DTKS will integrate data of children from poor families. It will also include the elderly, the disabled and others,” he added.

“All those segments of society have their own data, all of which will be integrated with DTKS.” Adhy said the integration of the data will ensure that those segments of society will be the recipient of the government’s various social aid programs.

Adhy added that the Ministry will encourage provincial administrations across Indonesia to cooperate in the program.

Registration to the DTKS entitles Indonesian citizens to social protection programs such as the Family Hope Program (PKH), Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT), Cash Social Assistance (BST), and other government programs.

Source:

https://go.kompas.com/read/2021/03/24/005939074/indonesian-minister-of-social-affairs-to-overhaul-social-welfare-data?page=all#page2. 

CNET A 5G smartphone

5G Network Technology Will Enter Indonesia Soon, says Senior Minister

Fifth-generation (5G) cellular network technology will soon be available in Indonesia, just a few years after a wireless broadband technology 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) entered the country, a senior minister said on Tuesday, March 23.

Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto said that the 5G services are mandatory although the charges for its services are higher. “In the 4.0 industry, the need for 5G technology to support wireless autonomous systems is inevitable,” said Airlangga

“Therefore, the government will prepare the prototypes even though we know that the costs for 5G services are higher, but with the productivity of automation the industry will be able to use the facilities with 5G,” he said.

Even though the Communication and Information Ministry has yet decided on which 5G technology base will be used, the government is currently reviewing several areas to develop the prototypes.

The government must also consider the growing concern on geopolitical risk related to the 5G development.

“This is about the geopolitical issue. The 5G technology is a geopolitical matter, so we have to be smart in sorting out and maintaining geopolitics because Indonesia is the largest country in ASEAN and the largest digital market,” he added.

Source:
https://go.kompas.com/read/2021/03/23/215528674/5g-network-technology-will-enter-indonesia-soon-says-senior-minister.