A virologist and university professor, I Gusti Ngurah Kade Mahardika, urged the provincial government to expedite the rollout of vaccines in Bali to mitigate the crisis in the province.
(Image: ©The Bali Sun – I Wayan Yatika)
During an interview on Thursday (31/12), Professor Mahardika explained that the most effective method in combating the virus is through the distribution of vaccines.
“I urge the provincial government of Bali to move quickly in facilitating vaccines to the public, and I suggest they stop depending on the central government to do so,” Mahardika said.
(Image: ©The Bali Sun – I Wayan Yatika)
According to Mahardika, Bali’s 4.4 million population requires 6 million vaccines to effectively enable immunity.
“We need at least 6 million doses of vaccines to gain immunity from the virus” said Mahardika.
He added that vaccines are the solution to resuming international tourism and recovering from the economic crisis, and that the governor should request the central government to prioritize Bali Province when distributing supply.
(Image: ©The Bali Sun – I Wayan Yatika)
As a province predominantly dependent on international tourism, Bali’s economy is most affected by COVID-19.
Additionally, Bali contributes favorably to Indonesia’s GDP annually.
“If Bali accelerates the distribution of vaccines, the economy will begin to recover. Although vaccines are becoming accessible, I urge everyone to continue implementing all health and safety protocols, such as wearing masks and social distancing, to prevent risk of transmission” Mahardika concluded.
(Image: ©The Bali Sun – I Wayan Yatika)
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