Malang, E Java (ANTARA) - The Education and Culture Office of Malang City, East Java, has said it is targeting to complete COVID-19 vaccinations of all students in the area by October this year.
"We hope and make maximum efforts so that by October 2021, all students who are at least 12 years old, and in accordance with applicable regulations and requirements, have received the COVID-19 vaccine," head of the Malang City Education and Culture Office, Suwarjana, said here on Friday.
Student vaccinations are related to the reopening of face-to-face learning, he informed.
Student vaccinations are one step to accommodate various parties, such as teachers, students, and parents, for the implementation of face-to-face learning in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, he added.
"If at any time the relevant parties allow face-to-face learning, Malang City will be ready to implement the policy," he said.
The provision of vaccines for students at the Elementary School (SD) and Junior High School (SMP) levels is currently still in the internal coordination stage in relation to compilation of data on the number of students, Suwarjana informed.
The Education and Culture Office of Malang City is also coordinating with the principals of elementary and junior high schools in the area to obtain data on the number of students aged 12 years and over, he said.
Limited face-to-face teaching and learning activities were carried in Malang City in April 2021 under the strict implementation of health protocols. However, surging COVID-19 cases in Indonesia had put a stop to face-to-face learning, Suwarjana said.
Currently, Malang City is still implementing public activity restrictions (PPKM). This week, the city was categorized as an orange zone, or an area with a moderate risk of COVID-19 transmission. (*)
