Cianjur, West Java. Officials in a West Java subdistrict have turned to an uncommon tactic by offering a live chicken in exchange for an immunization shot to persuade the elderlies to take their vaccination against Covid-19 for more than a month now. 

On Tuesday, police officers and health workers from a public health center (Puskesmas) in the Pacet subdistrict in Cianjur, West Java, went from door to door in one of such missions. They visit people aged 60 or above in the subdistrict, bringing a pen full of live chickens.

They hope a prospect of getting a chicken would be enough to get the elderly to agree to get their vaccine shot.  

Indonesia aimed to vaccinate 21.6 million older people by the end of last month. It failed to achieve the target as widespread false information and hoaxes about Covid-19 or the vaccines lead many older people to think that the shot can cause serious illnesses or death. So far, Indonesia only able to vaccinated 2.6 million elderly, or 12 percent of its target. 

Therefore the Pacet police used a cultural approach to regain the residents' trust regarding vaccination. Police and public health care workers visited every home of residents who refused to be vaccinated 'door to door.' Then they gave every person detailed information on the Covid-19 vaccination. A resident who wants to take a vaccine will receive the vaccine after pass strict vaccination screening procedures.

Since it was launched one month ago, the 'free chicken' program has successfully increased Pacet residents' enthusiasm about vaccination. 

"Before the free chicken program, only 25 out of 200 residents were willing to get vaccinated, but now 250 people are registered every day and willing to be vaccinated at the Puskesmas," Adjutant Chief Comr. Galih Apria, the chief of Pacet subdistrict police, said, 

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