Balangan reaches 82.01% vaccination, the highest in South Kalimantan

Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Balangan District has recorded 82.01 percent COVID-19 vaccination coverage, the highest in South Kalimantan, by the end of 2021.

"Alhamdulilah (praise be to Allah), even though we have surpassed 70 percent target, but until now we continue to carry on the vaccination," said Balangan Police Chief Adj Sr Comr (AKBP) Zaenal Arifin in Banjarmasin, Tuesday.

Especially for elderly, it has achieved 67 percent coverage. This means that Balangan can now implement s vaccination for children aged 6 to 11 years.

Zaenal acknowledged that the local government is currently waiting for a technical direction from the provincial government related to administering vaccine for children.

He hopes it could be carried on sooner, especially to support direct learning at schools to be implemented optimally without worrying about COVID-19 infection.

"If all residents of school, from teachers, students, and parents are vaccinated then there should be no more worry in learning in the classroom, all can run normally," he expounded.


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Zaenal admitted that vaccination program in Balangan is truly faces challanges for its geographical condition which is quite difficult to reach, especially villages on the hills.

In total there are 159 villages in 8 sub-districts with a varied quite difficult terrain. Even the phone signas and internet network is difficult.

"That's why there is a location that could be reached in two days trip just to give vaccines to 30 or 50 people. I salute and appreciate the joint government vaccinator team assisted by the TNI-Polri who are solid and keep on enthusiastic in the field," he said.

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