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Ministry mulls over fifth COVID-19 vaccine dose for high risk groups
A plan for a third COVID-19 booster is being deliberated amid a recent uptick in novel coronavirus disease infections in Indonesia and some neighboring countries.
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A health worker shows a vial of Indovac, a COVID-19 vaccine made by PT Bio Farma in collaboration with the United States’ Baylor College of Medicine, on Oct. 13, 2022, during a first-dose vaccination campaign in Bandung, West Java. (AFP/Timur Matahari)
T
he Health Ministry is planning to provide a fifth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for elderly people and those with comorbidities, to protect them against the new coronavirus subvariants amid a recent increase in new cases in the country.
According to data from the ministry, there were 1,499 active COVID-19 cases detected by health authorities as of Thursday, with 359 new cases on the same day. The ministry also recorded five deaths caused by COVID-19 since last week
The EG.5 or “Eris” variant of COVID-19, a subvariant of Omicron, is mostly blamed for the recent uptick in cases in Indonesia and other countries in the region. Eris reportedly has a lower fatality rate compared to other subvariants.
The ministry was in talks to disburse a fifth dose, or third booster, of the COVID-19 vaccine by next year, especially for people with a high risk of contracting the virus, said spokesperson Siti Nadia Tarmizi.
“The vaccine’s fifth dose isn’t required for the general public since many have yet to take their second dose or first booster,” Siti told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
According to the ministry, around 203 million people, or 86 percent of the 234 million vaccination target, had received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of Thursday. But only 175 million people had received their second dose, and 69 million their first booster.
Read also: Ministry urges complete COVID-19 vaccination ahead of holiday season
