As outbreak worsens, Indonesian airline offers vaccines to tourists

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FILE PHOTO: Cecep Taufiqurohman, a 32-year-old traveller, receives his first dose of China's Sinovac Biotech vaccine for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) provided by Garuda Indonesia, before his flight to Surabaya, at Soekarno Hatta International airport in Tangerang, near Jakarta, Indonesia, June 30, 2021. REUTERS/Yuddy Cahya Budiman

 

JAKARTA (Reuters) - The Indonesian airline Garuda started administering free coronavirus vaccinations to holidaymakers and travellers on Wednesday, part of efforts to reduce the impact of the virus in one of Asia's worst-affected countries.

 

About 20 passengers took advantage of the free shots on the opening day of the programme on Wednesday at Soekarno-Hatta International airport, which has the capacity to vaccinate 200 domestic travellers per day.

 

"This vaccine gives me confidence but still, we have to obey health protocol because we're not 100% immune. But at least it gives a sense of calm," said Cecep Taufiqurohman, 32, after receiving his vaccine.

 

Flag carrier Garuda is offering the Sinovac vaccine to help expedite a national immunisation programme that had a slow takeoff, with only 13 million of the country's more than 270 million people fully vaccinated since January.

 

Indonesia has reported record new infections in two of the past three days, and authorities are considering emergency restrictions to arrest the spread.

 

"We can reach herd immunity in society and we can leave the pandemic behind," said the airline's Director of Service Ade Susardi, explaining the aim of the project.

 

President Joko Widodo on Wednesday pledged to increase vaccinations to 1 million doses per day in July and 2 million in August, up from what he said was about 200,000 to 300,000 a day at present.

 

Passenger Rika Fitriani said she had struggled to get a second dose after postponing her appointment in May, so Garuda's offer meant she could get both a vaccine and a vacation.

 

"I'm just afraid of crowds during these days because I have a baby and that's why I chose Garuda, so that I can go on holiday too," she said.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-07-01