Bekasi. At least 50 persons with severe mental illness were vaccinated against Covid-19 in Bekasi on Wednesday. They received the first jabs of the AstraZeneca vaccine with permission from their families.

The campaign was arranged by humanitarian group Jamrud Biru Foundation, who provided its care facility in the eastern suburbs of Jakarta as the vaccination site. Each participant had to pass medical checkup before receiving the shot.

The foundation said the hardest part of this program is to get permission from families of the patients. Many have refused to take part, citing concerns over the safety of the vaccine 

"Families do not allow it because they are worried that there would be adverse effects," foundation spokesman Ardy said. 

"On the other hand, the foundation doesn't dare to make a decision because only the families know if they have underlying conditions," he added.

The program ran for three days with the second jabs scheduled for the next three months depending availability of the vaccine.

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