Data Revealed! 20 Million People Have Not Been Injected With The Second Dose Of Vaccine, Even Though 1-5 Months Have Passed

Photo: BPMI Setpres/Rusman

JAKARTA - Government Spokesperson for COVID-19 Handling Wiku Adisasmito said that nationally there are still 20 million Indonesians who have not received the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine after the first injection within a period of one to five months.

"With a span of one to five months, nationally the number is as many as 20 million people," said Wiku, Thursday, February 17, quoted from Antara.

Based on data from the Indonesian Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), Wiku said as many as 5 million people in West Java had not received the second dose after carrying out the first vaccination with a span of one to five months.

In addition, there are four other regions that also have not received a complete dose of vaccine. The four provinces are East Java, Central Java, Banten and North Sumatra.

"With this condition, the government is trying to take quick action to immediately accelerate the second dose of vaccination by being open to the suggestions of several experts, including the Indonesian Immunization Technical Advisory Group or ITAGI," said Wiku.

Seeing this situation, Wiku specifically asked all heads of health offices at the provincial and district-city levels. They were asked to seriously implement the directives from the central government to immediately provide a second dose of vaccine for targets who had "dropped out" in less than or equal to six months with a platform that adjusted the availability in each region.

Then the head of the health office must also repeat primary vaccination for targets who have dropped out within more than six months also using a different platform from the original vaccine as stated in the Circular Letter of the Ministry of Health Number SR.02.06/II/921/2022 concerning Providing COVID-19 Vaccination.

Wiku emphasized that every local government also needs to pay attention to the expiration period and vaccine stock, especially for the types of vaccines which are limited in number and can only be given to special groups.

As for the community, he appealed to immediately vaccinate to prevent the severity of symptoms due to COVID-19.

On that occasion, Wiku also mentioned that based on data from the Ministry of Health as of February 13, 2022, the cumulative total of patients treated in hospitals was 74,838 patients. With details 71 percent asymptomatic or asymptomatic and mild symptoms.

On the other hand, 49 percent of the contributors to the death rate tend to come from the elderly, 48 percent comorbid and 68 percent of people who have not or cannot be fully vaccinated.

In addition to asking each party to participate in vaccination, he also asked all parties to adhere to the rules for self-isolation so that the death rate does not increase and the immune system is maintained.

"Every positive case must be isolated early so as not to transmit. For this reason, the public is asked to comply with the isolation recommendations, including the procedures according to their conditions to reduce the death rate, increase the recovery rate and at the same time prevent new cases from arising," said Wiku.