JAKARTA-Among the community, there are still some who do not understand the importance of vaccines to prevent infectious diseases. This makes the need for continuous and continuous socialization of vaccines. The ability of vaccines to build immunity against a particular disease such as Covid-19, makes it the most effective means of preventing transmission.
In the Productive Dialogue with the theme “Vaccines as Health Preventive Planning” which was held by the Committee for Handling Covid-19 and National Economic Recovery (KPCPEN), Monday (23/11), dr. Dirga Sakti Rambe, a vaccinologist as well as a specialist in internal medicine, explained. “Each vaccine has a different effectiveness, and the vaccine will not get permission if its effectiveness is low. For the Covid-19 vaccine, WHO sets the effectiveness of at least 50%. We hope that the existing vaccines will have a higher effectiveness than the figures set by WHO, “he explained.
Vaccines as a means of public health intervention during a pandemic are urgently needed. In addition to this disease being dangerous to health, the symptoms of being infected with Covid-19 can be so minimal that patients do not realize they have been infected. This has resulted in many Covid-19 patients being treated late or receiving treatment when their symptoms and conditions worsen.
“There are a lot of symptoms caused by Covid-19, therefore we are always aware of whatever our bodies feel. Don’t feel well because you don’t have a fever. Even though there are symptoms of being infected with Covid-19 apart from fever, ”said dr. Twindy Rarasati, a doctor who is also a COVID-19 survivor.
Dr. Driga stated, “It would be wrong to think that vaccines are useless. Because vaccines train the immune system to be able to produce antibodies. And another vaccine has advantages that other preventive measures do not, namely vaccines provide specific protection. For this reason, many doctors and experts claim that vaccines are effective as a means of preventing Covid-19 transmission, apart from continuing to be disciplined in implementing 3M (Wearing masks, washing hands, and maintaining a safe distance).
Correct information related to health protocols and vaccines is necessary for the community to be updated continuously. “When I was exposed in early April, the health protocol was not as good as it is today. People at that time also did not fully understand this disease as it is today. We still have to do Health Protocol and high self-responsibility to get out of this pandemic. Update knowledge and information continuously, because the dynamic is fast, especially when a vaccine has been found, ”explained dr. Twindy.
“As a doctor who has treated Covid-19 patients since March, I see Covid-19 as an extraordinary disease. Apart from being a new disease with very fast transmission, the deterioration of the patient’s condition in some cases is sometimes also very fast. So it is not true that we can underestimate Covid-19, “added dr. Dirga.
The Covid-19 vaccine is a hope for efforts to reduce the spread of Covid-19. The public is asked to be sure that the vaccine that is prepared is safe and effective because it must first obtain a permit for use from the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM), after previously going through a long research process including a clinical trial stage that ensures its safety and effectiveness. “If there is a permit (for use), there is no need to hesitate anymore. If the permit exists and the government asks us to vaccinate, we will immediately work on it together. So far, from the results of clinical trials related to safety, there is no record of serious side effects regarding the safety of this vaccine, “said dr. Dirga.
Information that is correct and comes from trusted sources in the health sector needs to be conveyed to the public. This prevents people from getting caught up in misleading hoax news.
“I believe for vaccines, all aspects have been considered. But that doesn’t mean that with vaccines, we depend on vaccines. There must still be health and self-protection protocols which are our responsibility. Filter and be critical in every news report, not to be consumed by hoaxes, ”concluded dr. Twindy.
CM
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