Now The Ministry Of Health Allows The Elderly To Get A Booster Vaccination After 3 Months Of The Second Dose

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JAKARTA - The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) has issued a new rule regarding the implementation of the third or booster dose of COVID-19 vaccination for the elderly group.

Now, the elderly can receive a booster vaccine after 3 months of getting the primary or second dose of vaccination. Previously, booster vaccination could only be given within 6 months for all age groups.

This is stated in the Circular Letter of the Director General of Disease Prevention and Control Number SR.02.06/II/1123/2022 concerning Adjustment of the Implementation of Advanced Dose (Booster) COVID-19 Vaccination for the Elderly.

Secretary of the Directorate General of Disease Prevention and Control of the Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said that this policy had received a recommendation from the Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI).

"The booster dose for the elderly over the age of 59 years can be given at an interval of at least 3 months after receiving complete primary vaccination," said Nadia in a virtual press conference, Tuesday, February 22.

Nadia said that the combination of vaccine regimens used for booster vaccination for the elderly could be homologous (same type of vaccine as the primary vaccine) and heterologous (different types) by adjusting the availability of vaccines in each region.

"This booster dose of COVID-19 vaccination can also be carried out homologously or heterologously with any vaccine currently available," said Nadia.

In principle, said Nadia, all types of vaccines that have received EUA from BPOM and recommendations from ITAGI can be used to accelerate booster vaccinations for the elderly.

However, Nadia said that currently the Sinovac vaccine will not be used for repeating the primary dose of vaccination or the use of the second dose.

"Especially for the Sinovac vaccine due to limited availability, then for the primary vaccine and booster vaccination. The Sinovac vaccine will be prioritized for children aged 6-11 years," he added.