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Vaccine expansion key to pandemic control for healthier Indonesia
The Communications and Information Ministry has encouraged people to be proactive in participating in the vaccination program, to boost immunity and minimize the risk of being infected with COVID-19.
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Full compliance: Motorists pass a COVID-19-themed mural in Tebet, South Jakarta, on June 15. (Antara/Galih Pradipta)
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he Communications and Information Ministry has encouraged people to be proactive in participating in the vaccination program, to boost immunity and minimize the risk of being infected with COVID-19. This is in line with a Presidential Instruction highlighting the importance of maintaining discipline with regard to health protocols and vaccination-program acceleration.
According to the national COVID-19 vaccination data, on August 6 some 23.79 percent of the national population had received at least one vaccination dose, with 11.08 percent being fully vaccinated, of the national vaccination target of 208.27 million people. The targeted recipients comprise medical workers, senior citizens, public officials, vulnerable people and the general public.
The importance of vaccination and how to stay healthy amid the pandemic was the topic discussion held at the KPC-PEN media center on Thursday, featuring Dr Dirga Rambe, an internist and vaccinologist, the Health Ministry’s COVID-19 vaccination program spokeswoman Dr Siti Nadia Tarmizi and cardiologist cum TV host Dr Vito Anggarino Damay.
The three speakers highlighted the importance of health protocol implementation, a healthy and clean lifestyle, vaccination, and strengthening testing, tracing and treatment (3Ts) in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. On vaccines, Dirga said that the pivotal factor with vaccines was achieving herd immunity. “It would not be effective if someone could get vaccinated over and over but was then surrounded by unvaccinated people,” he said. He added that the virus could be stopped from spreading if it could not find new hosts. This could also slow down the virus-mutation process.
People without ID cards can get vaccinated at vaccination centers that are jointly managed by health authorities and the Home Ministry’s Population and Civil Registry Agency. “They will be given an ID card, directly after the vaccination,” Nadia said.
The government has accelerated all measures to meet the vaccination target by the end of this year. “Recording, reporting and vaccine distribution are jointly managed by the health agencies, the Indonesian Military and the National Police. These three institutions will synergize with other institutions like the regional administrations, mass organizations and communities so the vaccinations can reach remote places,” Nadia added.
She acknowledged that up to this date, some people, especially those with comorbidities, were still worried that vaccination would negatively affect their health.
Commenting on this, Vito said that if the comorbidities were under control, meaning the patients routinely checked their condition and consulted with their physicians then they could get vaccinated. Pregnant women were also advised to get vaccinated with certain requirements.
“A pregnant woman can still get vaccinated in their second trimester of the pregnancy, and not currently suffer any health issues. Pregnant women should get the Pfizer, Moderna and Sinovac vaccines,” Dirga said.
He went on that COVID-19 survivors who have been declared free of the disease for at least three months, are also advised to get vaccinated.
On vaccine hesitancy, Dirga said that 4 billion vaccine doses had been administered globally and they turned out to be effective and safe. Although being vaccinated does not mean total immunity, we still can be infected but the vaccine will help us avoid severe medical conditions and lower the risk of death.
“That is why vaccines are mandatory besides following health protocols.”
To avoid the spreading of hoaxes that could have a negative influence on people, Vito encouraged everyone to be committed to sharing qualified information and stop circulating unverified reports.
“If you feel unsure, then you must first verify the news with an expert or a more credible news source to make sure about the information,” Nadia said.
