SHOTS TO BE GIVEN IN MOSQUES
More accessible venues needed to facilitate Covid-19 vaccination, says exIndonesian veep
COVID-19 vaccinations will be administered in mosques starting next month, according to the Indonesian Mosque Council (DMI).
Its chairman, Jusuf Kalla, announced this after a meeting with the Health Ministry, Antara news agency reported.
“Two nights ago, I made an agreement with the Health Ministry so that vaccinations can be organised in mosques,” he said on Tuesday.
The selected mosques must be large, supported by sufficient infrastructure, and spacious enough to prevent crowding that could occur during the process, added the head of Indonesian Red
Cross and former vice-president.
“As long as the mosques have good facilities and equipment, such as a hall, hallway, large yard, and rooms for vaccination,” he said.
Kalla said if vaccination is only done in cities, the target for vaccinating one million people a day will be hard to reach.
As the target needs to be achieved to build herd immunity. therefore, thousands of venues that are easily accessible for the public are needed, he added.
Such venues should have supporting facilities for vaccinations, and mosques can meet that need, he remarked.
“We need to move fast to build immunity, so we can live normally again, no need to keep on wearing masks. It can happen if we vaccinate one million people a day,” said Jusuf.
Earlier, he stated that mosques across the country will be opened for tarawih during Ramadan, with stringent protocols in place.
“We have allowed mosques in all regions to be opened, but still maintaining physical distancing (has been advised),” Kalla said after a meeting with the West Nusa Tenggara governor on Tuesday.
This year, Ramadan will again be observed amid the pandemic, but the situation has changed from last year, when Muslims were asked to pray at home.
“But, it is still on the condition that people will wear masks. This is the difference from the previous (Ramadan). As malls are opened, why shouldn’t we open mosques?” he said.