Children Join Vaccination in a Hope for Face to Face Learning

Since the beginning of July 2021, vaccinations have been started for children aged 12-17 years in Indonesia. With vaccination, the risk of transmission of COVID-19 for children can be minimized. This program was well-received by students, including Alya 14-year-old, and Wulan, a 16-year-old, who have been longing to return to face-to-face learning in class.

Alya and Wulan are two of dozens of teenagers who participated in a vaccination program at a health center in East Jakarta on September 1, 2021. These two young girls had prepared themselves from a few days earlier. Both of them are very excited about this program.

“I have been studying online since 2020. I miss face-to-face school. If I study online, I cannot study optimally and socialize with my friends. My internet package is also sometimes not enough for studying online,” said Alya.

Wulan, who is now in a Vocational High School, also has a similar experience. Being a new student and attending an online school is challenging for Wulan.

“The subject is difficult to learn because the explanation is conducted online. Internet packages often run out quickly. Previously it only took 60 thousand rupiahs a month for internet, now it is 120 thousand rupiahs. This cost is very heavy for our family because my father is no longer working due to the pandemic. I want the pandemic to end and I can go back to school to study face to face,” said Wulan.

For this reason, the two teenagers put their hope in the vaccination program. Alya and Wulan want children their age to also participate in the vaccination so that face-to-face learning activities can be held again safely.

“For the children at my age, let's vaccinate! The vaccine is for our benefit. Do not be afraid. Do not forget to wear a mask, keep your distance and wash your hands too so that COVID-19 passes quickly," Wulan continued.

The vaccination activity where Alya and Wulan participate is part of the mobile vaccination program as a form of Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI) response to the second wave of COVID-19 that occurred in Indonesia. In Jakarta Province, this program was held in collaboration with the Jakarta Provincial Government and Rumah Zakat, a non-governmental organization. Mobile vaccination programs are also held in Surabaya City, Sigi Regency, and Donggala Regency. With mobile vaccination, it is expected that 1,000 adults, 2,250 children, 750 persons with disabilities will receive the first dose of vaccine by September.

Ditulis oleh Rena Tanjung, Communications Officer, Wahana Visi Indonesia