There are plenty of ways to convince people to get their COVID-19 vaccine, but to put the feather on the cap of ingenious initiatives, nothing comes close to how Pacet district in Cianjur, West Java are rewarding the elderly with live poultry.
Yes, you read that right — officials in Pacet district have been awarding live chickens for every senior citizen who gets their COVID-19 jab. The initiative was aimed at attracting their interest and participation, so they won’t chicken out from getting vaccinated.
Here’s how it works: police officers from the Pacet sub-precinct, district officials, and puskesmas (health community clinic) staff would visit the homes of the region’s senior citizens. If the grandpas and grandmas agree to getting their jabs, they are given a live chicken each as a sign of kadeudeuh, which means a token of love in Sundanese.
“The elderly people didn’t want to get vaccinated for various reasons. That’s why we visited them and we show our appreciation by giving chickens to people who want to be vaccinated,” Pacet sub-precinct chief Galih Aprian said.
Did it work? You bet your upper thigh it did. From virtually no elderly interest in the jab, officials reported that 300 had registered for the program and received their shots. That translates to 300 live chickens, as officials are only giving one for the two shots the senior citizens are going to receive.
Indonesia’s Health Ministry reported that only five percent of the total population, or around 8.8 million people, have been fully vaccinated — far from the target of 181.5 million people by early 2022.
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