Even Though Indonesia Is Entering The Endemic, The Covid-19 Vaccine Is Expected To Stay Free

Illustration of the COVID 19 (ANTARA) vaccine

JAKARTA - Professor of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia Prof. Tjandra Yoga Aditama asked the Government of the Republic of Indonesia to continue to be free of COVID-19 vaccination even though the health emergency status in Indonesia was officially revoked. "The second booster vaccination (booster dose) must be resolved, while waiting for further scientific developments to know whether there is still need to be vaccinated with what is now or there are other scientific findings," said Tjandra Yoga Aditama, quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, June 15. According to Tjandra, it would be better if the Government continues to eliminate COVID-19 vaccination even though the situation is already endemic, given the impact of the extraordinary pandemic. Tjandra, who is also the Post-Sarjana Director of YARSI University, said that currently many countries in the world have treated COVID-19 as an endemic of infectious diseases in their respective countries, just like other infectious diseases. However, COVID-19 vaccination also needs to be accompanied by a habit of prioritizing a healthy lifestyle that has been carried out during COVID-19. "We all must always apply a clean and healthy lifestyle, including periodic health check habits, cigarette smoke and other pollution, diligently active physical and sports activities, a nutritious and balanced diet of food, adequate rest and stress management," he said. Separately, the Head of the Indonesian Ministry of Health Communication and Public Services Bureau Siti Nadia Tarmizi said that the discourse on paid vaccination is still under discussion with related parties. Still in discussion. Until the endemic transition era is still free," he said. The Ministry of Health still allocates about 4 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine imported from PT Bio Farma branded IndoVac and PT Biotis Pharmaceuticals Pharmaceutical Indonesia with the InaVac brand.

In addition, there are also imported vaccines branded Pfizer and AstraZeneca with a stock of around 100 thousand doses.Nadia ensured that the COVID-19 vaccination program would continue during the endemic period. This activity is integrated into the national routine immunization program.