After vaccination, if the body is later exposed to those disease-causing germs, the body is immediately ready to destroy them, preventing illness.

Vaccines save millions of lives each year. Vaccines work by training and preparing the body’s natural defences – the immune system – to recognize and fight off the viruses and bacteria they target.

As of 18 February 2021, at least seven different vaccines across three platforms have been rolled out in countries. Vulnerable populations in all countries are the highest priority for vaccination.

At the same time, more than 200 additional vaccine candidates are in development, of which more than 60 are in clinical development. COVAX is part of the ACT Accelerator, which WHO launched with partners in 2020. COVAX, the vaccines pillar of ACT Accelerator, convened by CEPI, Gavi and WHO, aims to end the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic by:

• speeding up the development of safe and effective vaccines against COVID-19;
• supporting the building of manufacturing capabilities; and
• working with governments and manufacturers to ensure fair and equitable allocation of the vaccines for all countries – the only global initiative to do so.

Vaccines are a critical new tool in the battle against COVID-19 and it is hugely encouraging to see so many vaccines proving successful and going into development. Working as quickly as they can, scientists from across the world are collaborating and innovating to bring us tests, treatments and vaccines that will collectively save lives and end this pandemic.

Safe and effective vaccines will be a gamechanger: but for the foreseeable future we must continue wearing masks, physically distancing and avoiding crowds. Being vaccinated does not mean that we can throw caution to the wind and put ourselves and others at risk, particularly because it is still not clear the degree to which the vaccines can protect not only against disease but also against infection and transmission.

Bali as one province that need a really urgent recovery from COVID-19 is really pushing the COVID-19 vaccinations so we can reopen soon for international traveller. Bali Governor Wayan Koster said he has secured 700 thousand doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, which can be used for inoculating 350 thousand residents in the province. “Every COVID-19 vaccine recipient will get two shots,” he told journalists on the side-lines of a visit to observe a vaccination program in Denpasar on Thursday. The stock of 700 thousand doses would be administered to about 350 thousand residents in the near future, he informed.

Governor Koster said at least 70 percent of Bali’s total population, or three million residents, need to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity in the province. “Thus, we need about six million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to help us create herd immunity. This is what we are requesting from the central government,” he informed. To revive Bali Island’s tourism sector, a successful vaccination program is key, said President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) during a visit to the resort island on March 16, 2021.

During the working visit, Widodo predicted that the resort island’s tourism sector would begin to revive around the middle of this year. However, there are preconditions that Bali must fulfill in order to bring its tourism sector back on track, he said.

The President also highlighted the importance of managing the COVID-19 infection rate as it is important to Bali’s tourism recovery. He also underlined the importance of a successful vaccination program and public support for the implementation of health protocols, contact tracing, and self-isolation, he added.

Indonesia has been striving to win the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic since the government officially announced the country’s first cases on March 2, 2020. The government has rolled out a nationwide vaccination program this year to arrest the spread of infections. According to the Health Ministry, it would take 15 months to vaccinate around 181.5 million people under the national program. Indonesia’s COVID-19 infection rate crossed one million cases on January 26, 2021.

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease has dragged Indonesia into serious public health and economic crises. Tourism has been among the economic sectors severely-affected by COVID-19 in the country, with Bali tourism especially hit hard by the pandemic.

So many ways have been created to reach lots of people to get vaccinated. Including online registration. An online registration opens to tourism workers in Bali this week has so far attracted over 10,000 people, an official said, as it pools the number of people who would potentially benefit from a prioritized vaccination program for the battered tourism industry. Bali Tourism Agency Chief Putu Astawa said that a dedicated website was launched on Monday, and has so far received 10,500 entries as of yesterday. Online registration will remain open until the end of this month. “This data will be used to propose to the Health Ministry so that [tourism workers] can get the vaccines,” Astawa said.

He claims that vaccinated tourism workers will help boost trust among travelers, while citing Bank Indonesia data that puts the total number of workers in the tourism industry and small and medium enterprises sector at 1.2 million. Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno also suggested this week that Indonesia’s 34 million tourism workers ought to be prioritized for vaccinations against COVID-19, saying that it should start as early as next month with a kick-off in Bali.

Bali is targeting about 663,000 people for the province’s second phase of vaccinations, prioritizing those who are considered more vulnerable to the coronavirus and more likely to interact with the general public. This includes the elderly, educators, market sellers, and reportedly thousands of tourism workers, including staff at hotels and restaurants.

Not only local people, the Bali government also give the vaccines towards the foreigner who are staying in Bali. As many as 30 foreigners (WNA) were vaccinated against the AstraZeneca COVID-19 type in Sanur, Denpasar, Bali area. “As many as 30 foreigners have been vaccinated and stay here because they have a Temporary Resident Permit Card (KITAS) and Social Security Administrator (BPJS), which means they are already working and registered and have health facilities as well as being entitled to vaccine guarantees”, said Sanur Kaja Village Head I Made Sudana quoted by Antara, Thursday, March 25. In Sanur Kaja area, it is targeted that 10.000 residents can get the COVID-19 vaccine. This figure consists of people who have a Sanur KTP, are over 18 years old, and have a Self-Reporting Certificate (STLD).

“If there are people from outside (not residents of Sanur) but have settled here (Sanur), they must complete the STLD, meaning that they have reported themselves. If foreigners already have ID Number (NIK), KITAS, and BPJS, they can get (vaccines) and we will ask for an e-ticket”, said Made Sudana. The vaccinated foreigners mostly came from Australia and Sweden. They are lecturers at the International School and General Manager of the tourism sector. Apart from foreign citizens, tourism actors also get priority in administering this vaccine. Tourism actors are also asked to bring a certificate or ID at their place of work. Implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination is targeted to be completed within one week.

There are also vaccines used in three COVID-19 green zone areas, namely AstraZeneca. The Bali’s Government is do it best to pushing the vaccinations here in Bali. So we can open the tourism as soon as possible and make the safe circumstances for every one who are travelling to Bali.