MaxFM, Waingapu – Persons with disabilities in Indonesia are one of those prone to Covid-19. Therefore, they have to get a priority to obtain the vaccine. World Health Organization (WHO) has regulated this in an attempt to create herd immunity.
Dr. Gilbert Renaldi Kusila delivered the topic in his material at a talk show with Radio Max 96.9 FM Waingapu. The talk show took the theme of Disabilitas Merdeka (Persons with Disabilities are free) from Covid-19 through Vaccines. It was carried out on Wednesday (03/11/2021).
Gilbert said that persons with disabilities are priority recipients of the vaccines because they need extra assistance from others due to their limited activities.
“Our dear friends who have disabilities, those who need wheelchairs or other supporting types of equipment, need extra assistance from others, so they are susceptible [to Covid-19 virus]. Therefore, they have to be protected [from the virus] by getting the vaccines,” he said.
“Vaccine variants available in Indonesia are safe to all, including the persons with disabilities,” he added.
Understandably, there are concerns about the vaccines because persons with disabilities tend to have comorbidities. To anticipate the anxiety, doctors and health workers must perform thorough screening before the vaccination. In other words, they cannot make personal assumptions about the conditions of vaccine recipients.
“There are screening teams to determine whether prospective vaccine recipients, including persons with disabilities, can receive the vaccines or [should there be particular conditions] have to be postponed,” he further added.
Nuning of Organisasi Harapan Nusantara OHANA Yogyakarta mentioned that she also faced challenges while giving vaccinations to persons with disabilities. Although the vaccination was given in partnership with the Indonesian Ministry of Health, parents or special needs sitters are still nervous. They are afraid of any risks that the vaccines may have to their relatives who have disabilities. It is because persons with disabilities usually carry comorbidity. Based on her experience, the team has to wisely give understanding to the families and convince them to take the vaccines.
“We have to convey the understanding to their [persons with disabilities] relatives, to those who are close to them. We have to tell them the advantages of getting the vaccines. [It will be easier to use the closest people to persons with disabilities] because if we explain it to them directly, it might not be easy,” she said.
Nuning further mentioned that she worked together with a team of doctors and psychologists. Using recorded videos, they conveyed the advantages of vaccines to persons with disabilities. Since then, they have been using recorded videos as dissemination media at gathering places for persons with disabilities.
“When there are queries, we accommodate then proceeds them to doctors and psychologist to be followed up,” she said.
The good news for persons with disabilities in NTT province is that the Ohana foundation in Yogyakarta is working with the Indonesian Ministry of Health to provide vaccine service. Persons with disabilities in NTT will receive the vaccine from Johnson and Johnson. This type of vaccine only requires one shot.
“The Indonesian Ministry of Health requires a minimum of 100 persons to be vaccinated. So far, there are 700 people registered from three districts in East Sumba”, she said.
She hopes that the vaccine registration and implementation will work well. Therefore, children and persons with disabilities in East Sumba could receive the vaccine and be protected from Covid-19.
For information, a sign language interpreter was assigned to the Zoom meeting room during the talk show. Hosted by Heinrich Dengi, the talk show was also broadcast live from the studio of Max 96.9 FM. The event was supported by Harapan Nusantara Organization (OHANA) Yogyakarta. (Translator: Itha Priyastiti)
