South-east Asia's biggest textile market in Tanah Abang, with 10,000 vendors having signed up to receive their first Covid-19 vaccination shot.
The second phase of Indonesia's vaccination programme kicked off on Wednesday (Feb 17) at South-east Asia's biggest textile market in Tanah Abang, with 10,000 vendors having signed up to receive their first shot.
661
views

The market in central Jakarta was abuzz with excitement as 40 vaccinators made preparations for the inoculation.

There are 55,000 registered vendors at the market, and while not all have signed up, the country's Health Ministry said more are likely to register in the coming days to receive their shots.

President Joko Widodo said the second phase aims to vaccinate at least 38.5 million people, including those aged 60 and above, public officials, and people whose daily routines involve intensive social interactions.

Phase one, which was rolled out on Jan 13, saw about 1.5 million medical workers in the world's fourth most populous nation receive two shots of a Covid-19 vaccine.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, who visited the textile market on Wednesday, told reporters that the government is not limiting the sites for inoculation to just health facilities.


"We vaccinate at health facilities, places of employment, at popular venues (like the market) and in stadiums, where mass vaccinations can be done," he added.

Indonesia is targeting to get 181.5 million people, or two-thirds of its more than 270 million population, vaccinated for the coronavirus.

Under phase two, there will be vaccination drives at markets, commercial centres across greater Jakarta and places across the most populous island of Java and Bali, before the programme is extended to the other provinces.

"Market vendors are prioritised because they interact with customers every day. Street vendors are also welcomed," Dr Maxi Rein Rondonuwu, director-general of the country's disease control and prevention department, told reporters at the Tanah Abang market.

Srinivasan Perumal is the Chief Marketing Officer at KnitBrain International Pvt Ltd and loves helping source, merchandising, and launch new fashion clothing lines for the fashion brands and clients.

What's your reaction?

Facebook Conversations