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Booster shots for senior officials cause outrage
Official footage of President Joko Widodo's visit to East Kalimantan this week, which has since been edited, sparked anger after senior officials in the President's entourage were caught on tape claiming to have received a third “booster” shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, which is currently reserved only for health workers.
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A health worker receives a COVID-19 vaccine at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital in Central Jakarta on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
T
he government has suddenly found itself in hot water after it emerged this week that several high-ranking officials have reportedly received a third COVID-19 vaccine booster shot, at a time when most people in the country have not even received their first jab.
The scandal unraveled when footage of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo talking with several officials during a work visit to Samarinda, East Kalimantan, was posted on the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel on Tuesday.
In the live-streamed video, Jokowi was heard chatting with Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Hadi Tjahjanto, East Kalimantan Governor Isran Noor and Samarinda Mayor Andi Harun – all of whom were accompanying the President on the visit.
During the exchange, Andi acknowledged that he had received two vaccine injections and planned to use the controversial locally developed Nusantara vaccine as a booster, while Hadi told Jokowi he had already gotten his third jab.
“Oh, no wonder you look fresh. The mayor is jumping the line [to get a booster jab],” Jokowi said, jokingly.
Isran chimed in, saying that he had also received a booster shot of the Moderna vaccine. This was followed by Prabowo’s retort; “Everyone has received their booster shots, have you received yours, Mr. President?”
Jokowi said he was still waiting for the Pfizer vaccine.
