Booster Vaccination Is Heterologically Recommended, Here's What It Means

Illustration/Antara

JAKARTA - Epidemiologist from the University of Indonesia, Tri Yunis Miko Wahyono, suggested that booster doses of vaccination should be carried out heterologously or using a different type of vaccine from the primary vaccine.

"In theory, any third (booster) dose is OK, but in homologous (similar) studies it is not recommended," said Tri Yunis Miko Wahyono in Antara, Jakarta, Thursday, January 13.

He explained, if someone has received the primary vaccine (first and second doses) using Sinovac, it is recommended that booster dose vaccination use a different type of vaccine.

According to him, the implementation of booster dose vaccination is important in order to reduce the severity of a person in the midst of the current transmission of the Omicron variant.

"Omicron can't be prevented with a booster, but those who experience it will be mild so they don't need health services," he said.

In addition, he continued, giving booster doses of vaccination is also to maintain the body's resistance.

He appealed, this booster vaccination program is prioritized for the elderly group and people who have comorbidities or comorbidities.

On the other hand, Tri Yunis asked the government to look for a strategy so that the age group under six years old is not exposed because they have not received the COVID-19 vaccination.

"Right now I'm worried about children under the age of six who haven't been vaccinated. Cases in the United States are currently dominated by children," he said.

Previously, the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that the provision of antibody booster doses to the Indonesian people took into account the availability of the vaccine in 2022 in the country.

"The government will provide booster vaccinations taking into account the availability of existing vaccines this year," said Budi Gunadi Sadikin.

He added that the booster vaccine combination also takes into account the results of research from domestic and foreign researchers that have been confirmed by the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) and the Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI).

For participants receiving the Sinovac primary vaccine, Budi said, half a dose of Pfizer vaccine will be given as a booster. For primary vaccine recipients, the complete dose of Sinovac will be given a half dose of AstraZeneca vaccine.

For recipients of the complete primary dose of Astrazeneca vaccine, Budi said, half a dose of Moderna vaccine will be boosted.

Budi said several domestic and foreign studies have shown that homologous or heterologous or combinations of different types of booster vaccines show a relatively similar increase in antibodies.