Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia– Adults who have been vaccinated against influenza have a lower risk of death when contracting Covid-19. Even the symptoms received are also classified as milder than other people who have not been immunized against influenza.
This was conveyed by Dr. Dirga Sakti Rambe, M.Sc, Sp.PD, Internal Medicine Specialist and Vaccologist, in the Thursday News Dialogue Forum with the theme “Why Vaccines Are Important? Do They Need For Adults?”, Which was held at the KPCPEN Media Center, Thursday 15/10 / 2020.
“WHO specifically mentions, especially for adults, that during a pandemic it is best to get vaccinated against influenza and pneumonia or PCV. There are at least two large studies that show that patients who contract Covid-19 have previously been vaccinated against influenza, have a lower risk of death and the impact when infected with Covid-19. lighter, “he said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Purnamawati Sujud, SpA (K), MMped, from the Concerned Parents Foundation, said that prevention of disease through immunization is the most cost effective, meaning efficient and the results are good.
So far the community has understood that immunization is an effort to provide the best health for children. However, we often forget that children also need healthy parents. Efforts to stay healthy are carried out by preventing disease, one of which is through immunization to maintain immunity.
In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to the existence of a disease whose carrier is an adult, and can transmit to other family members including babies and children. Therefore, the benefits of immunization are not only felt by the recipient, but also their family and environment.
The vaccine production process itself is gradual and goes through various processes and very strict test stages to ensure the safety of the vaccine. Even after obtaining a distribution permit, vaccine safety is continuously monitored by various institutions. In Indonesia there is the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) as supervisor. In extraordinary cases such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the health industry is accelerating the process of finding vaccines, but without abandoning the principles of caution and safety.
“Making a vaccine is quite difficult, even more difficult than making a new drug, because the concept is for prevention. Vaccines are given to healthy people, so safety is number one.” explained dr. Dirga.
The vaccine itself is categorized by WHO as one of the 10 Greatest Public Health Achievements. After the discovery of the vaccine, there was a significant reduction in the spread of the disease. This means that vaccines are effective in suppressing the spread of certain diseases. One of the phenomenal success stories of disease suppression through immunization is the prevention of transmission of smallpox or smallpox. As a result of massive immunization, this disease has been extinct since 1979. WHO says, at least 2-3 million lives have been saved from diseases that can be prevented through immunization.
Vaccines rarely cause side effects, health data show, 95% of vaccine side effects are mild or local, and do not cause fatalities.
“Sometimes vaccines also cause fever, but don’t worry, because fever is a sign that the vaccine is working to stimulate the immune system,” said dr. Dirga. “Vaccines are proven to be safe and effective, and are actually a continuation process of immunization in childhood,” explained Doctor Dirga.
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