These social media influencers really know how to achieve this.
The most popular Instagram users in Indonesia were among the first to get the coronavirus vaccine in the country last week, but the effort seemed to skyrocket when a celebrity was seen partying hours after being injected.
President Joko Widodo on Wednesday began inoculating the nation with the help of local television staff Raffi Ahmad, who has nearly 50 million followers on the app.
“Don’t be afraid of vaccines,” the 33-year-old celebrity posted, along with a video about himself.
Hours later, the photos showed Raffi partying without a mask and rejecting social distancing protocols, against the advice of experts, as the vaccine does not provide immediate immunity.
A senior health ministry official told Reuters that “when you get vaccinated, you have to follow health protocols and not be careless when applying them.”
After the outcry over the photos, the social media star offered public apologies. Police said they are investigating whether he broke the law.
Still, the health ministry official said the decision to include influencers along with health workers in the first round of vaccinations was part of a deliberate communication strategy.
Ahyani Raksanagara, who heads the Bandung health agency, said the celebrities “hope they convey positive influence and messages” about vaccines, especially to young people.
A survey last month showed that only 37% of Indonesians said they were willing to get vaccinated.
Other influencers who got the shot last week were popular local musicians Risa Saraswati and Ariel, from the band Noah.
But Zubairi Djoerban, of the Medical Association of Indonesia, said the strategy for hiring influencers could only work if “they are informed about the vaccine and COVID-19 so they can be agents of change.”
With publishing cables