Ministry of Social Affairs Presents to Support Vaccination for Persons with Disabilities in Majalengka

MAJALENGKA (24 August 2021) - "Wyata Guna" Center (Balai) of the Ministry of Social Affairs participated in the Covid-19 vaccination activity for Persons with Disabilities in Majalengka Regency, West Java Province.

The support of Balai "Wyata Guna" was in the form of an ATENSI (Social Rehabilitation Assistance)-based service program and the distribution of basic-food packages for 104 persons with disabilities who participated in vaccination.

Vaccination was carried out at the Jatiwangi District Office, Majalengka Regency. The participants were Persons with Disabilities registered by the Social Office of Majalengka Regency.

According to the data of the Social Office of Majalengka Regency, there are around 819 persons with disabilities in Majalengka. 70 of them had participated in the Covid-19 vaccination. The major obstacle in administering the vaccine was that persons with disabilities were worried about the side effects.

Taking this into account, Balai "Wyata Guna" conducted an assessment and dissemination in Majalengka Regency on 18-20 August 2021, by assigning Social Workers and Civil Servants with Visual Disabilities who have participated in the Covid-19 Vaccination. They were assigned as role models that the vaccine has no negative impact.

The dissemination carried out succeeded in providing education for persons with disabilities. Initially, there were only 53 people who were willing to get vaccinated but then it increased to 104 people.

The Social Worker of Balai "Wyata Guna", Dani Widarman, said that Balai "Wyata Guna" played an active role in socializing the importance of Covid-19 vaccination. Balai “Wyata Guna” also provided food packages and the "Wyata Guna" accessibility car to pick up and drop off the participants at the vaccination location.

The Head of the Jatiwangi Sub-district, Rony Setiawan, expressed his gratitude to the Balai "Wyata Guna" for providing much-needed social assistance to the community. This could be an encouragement for persons with disabilities since they can fulfil their basic needs. Moreover, they were greatly affected by the Covid-19 outbreak.

Through the successful implementation of this vaccination, it is hoped that more people with disabilities will be willing to get vaccinated. In doing so, the government's program to achieve herd immunity against Covid-19 can be achieved.

This vaccination activity was attended by employees from Balai "Wyata Guna", the Secretary of the Social Office of Majalengka Regency, and the Head of the Health Department of Majalengka Regency and staff. There was also the Head of Jatiwangi Subdistrict, the Head of the Jatiwangi Health Center, the Military District Commander (Danramil) of Jatiwangi Subdistrict, and village officers from the Jatiwangi Subdistrict.