The government is working to close the stark gap in vaccination rates between regions across the vast archipelago, which remains a problem even though Indonesia recently passed 200 million COVID-19 jabs and while a third wave of infections looms ahead of the year-end holidays.

Rural communities — especially those living in less developed regions outside Java and Bali — have fallen behind in the race to get vaccinated since the nationwide vaccine drive began in March, mainly because of unequal vaccine distribution, poor management and poor access to vaccination centers.

These are exacerbated by the fact that the government’s vaccination strategy has been prioritizing urban agglomeration areas and provincial capitals, mostly on the most densely populated island of Java and Indonesia's main tourist destination Bali, as authorities believe areas with a higher population density pose a greater risk of COVID-19 transmission.

Source:
courtesy of THE JAKARTA POST

by Nina A. Loasana (The Jakarta Post)

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