Coordinating Ministry For Human Development And Culture: Booster Vaccine Given 6 Months After Complete Dose

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JAKARTA - The three-dose immune-boosting COVID-19 vaccine is given to the community at an interval of six months after the complete dose of primary vaccine injection, said an official from the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture (Kemenko PMK).

"The booster vaccination will start in January 2022 for participants who have received the primary vaccine at least six months earlier", said Deputy for Coordination for Health Quality Improvement and Population Development at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, Agus Suprapto, in a written statement quoted by Antara on Friday, January 7.

The background of booster vaccine intervals in the last six months since the first and second dose injections are due to previous vaccine studies at certain times experiencing decreased immunological and clinical protection.

He said that booster vaccination was prioritized for those aged over 18 years and carried out in districts/cities with the criteria for achieving 70 percent of the first dose of vaccination and 60 percent of the second dose. So far, 244 districts/cities have met the criteria.

To accelerate vaccination coverage in areas that have not yet reached 70 percent of the first dose for the elderly and children 6-11 years old, Agus said, the Ministry of Home Affairs will give appreciation and sanctions.

Agus said the legal basis for the implementation of a booster vaccination is still waiting for research related to the mechanism, financing, and others from the Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI).

The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture has held a cross-sectoral coordination meeting to discuss the readiness to implement booster dose vaccination and vaccination for children aged 6-11 years on Friday, January 7.

On this occasion, several representatives of government and non-government ministries/agencies were present, as well as various related associations.

Agus said that good communication is needed about the booster vaccination mechanism, especially to the international community.

"It is true that we must be careful in conveying public communication about this booster vaccination, especially at the international level. Given the aspect of vaccine equivalence, where there are still many other countries whose coverage is still low (10 percent) below the minimum coverage set by WHO", he said.