REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture (Kemenko PMK) said the government plans to carry out a booster injection of the Covid-19 vaccine in 2022. “There may be tomorrow. booster next year, keep in mind, vaccines are only one way to endemic,” said Deputy for Coordination for Health Quality Improvement and Population Development, Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, Agus Suprapto in a discussion themed “Readiness for Pandemic Behavior Change to Endemic” which was followed online in Jakarta, Tuesday (19/10).
According to him, one of the factors that led the government to plan to inject booster Covid-19 vaccine, namely the possibility of a decrease in immunity in the community. “People who are vaccinated in January-February this year there is a possibility that their immunity will decrease in November-December,” he explained.
Therefore, he hopes, the community will continue to implement strict health protocols so that cases continue to decline so that social and economic activities in the community can continue to run safely. “The community must remain vigilant and health protocols must be implemented because the virus can still mutate,” he said.
He said that for Indonesia to go to an endemic, it needed the cooperation of all parties, by maintaining health protocols by implementing 3M (wearing masks, maintaining distance, washing hands), strengthening 3T (testing, contact tracing, and treatment), and carrying out vaccinations. from pandemic to endemic, all parties need to work together on how to maintain good health care, awareness of 3T, and vaccination,” he said.
On that occasion, Agus Suprapto also said that the government will continue to provide incentives for the poor so that the economy at the bottom will keep moving. “Incentives for the poor are also maintained so that the economy can survive,” he said.
Previously, the Ministry of Health asked the Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI) to research the best Covid-19 vaccine used for boosters. Rein Rondonuwu.
Indonesia is currently designing procedures for administering the Covid-19 dooster vaccine for vulnerable groups other than health workers, such as people with disabilities and the elderly. In addition, vaccines booster jwill also be prioritized for Contribution Assistance Recipients (PBI).
They expect vaccination booster can be opened from January 2022. Research conducted regarding the administration of vaccines booster given either homologously or heterologously. “There must be a scientific basis, we are still pursuing it. Hopefully the research will be completed in December, so that we have a basis for the decision,” said Maxi.
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