NOT ONLY DURING THE PANDEMIC, VACCINATION REMAINS CRUCIAL
FK-KMK UGM. The pandemic may have ended, but the need for vaccination remains crucial for the community amidst the current era of new normalcy. On Wednesday (24/4), the Center for Health Behavior and Promotion of the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing at Gadjah Mada University (CHBP FK-KMK UGM) organized a research dissemination event to address related issues.
The research discussed is titled “Enhancing Public Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccines in Yogyakarta, Indonesia: Application of Mutual Cooperation Ethics and Community Protection Scheme” by Dr. Dra. Retna Siwi Padmawati, M.A., Prof. Dra. Yayi Suryo Prabandari, M.Si., Ph.D., and other researchers.
“This research was conducted in Wonosari, Gunung Kidul, and Bambangdipuro, Bantul to strengthen the health system with communication strategies in the community,” explained Retna.
Retna explained that in terms of mutual cooperation, 44.3% of the 804 respondents were classified as active.
“The mutual cooperation activities referred to include providing food supplies for self-isolation, educating people to be willing to get vaccinated, and even registering individuals for vaccination and escorting them to the vaccination sites,” Retna emphasized.
In terms of the protection scheme, three findings were also identified: supporting vaccination; leaving the decision to vaccinate to each family member, and not allowing vaccination due to comorbidities, low mobility, and elderly age.
“In addition, we also investigated their willingness if vaccination were to be paid for, where 68 percent were unwilling, and those willing were within the range of ten to fifty thousand rupiahs,” she added.
Prof Yayi also added explanations to Retna’s statement. She mentioned that in terms of communication strategy, this research adopted media development in the form of pocketbooks and videos. Moreover, Prof Yayi and her team conducted interventions with the local community through stakeholder capacity building and pre-posttest arrangements.
“Yes, we found that some of the community members accessed our pocketbooks and videos independently, while the influence of the Dukuh (local community) was not so significant,” said Prof Yayi.
She also explained that this research holds potential for the future. Prof Yayi hopes that the use of village funds for research, capacity building for cadres, and cooperation among stakeholders can be optimized.
Similarly, the research signifies a commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being. Additionally, it contributes to SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. (Isroq Adi Subakti/Reporter)
