Want A Comfortable And Safe Homecoming? Don't Delay Inject Boosters

Illustration (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, appealed to the public not to delay booster vaccination so that when going home, antibodies are created in the body that can protect against the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

"We appeal to the public, if we want to go home comfortably and safely, booster vaccines should be given immediately, don't force booster vaccinations when going home so as to avoid crowds at the vaccine site," said Siti Nadia Tarmizi in a written statement received in Jakarta, Thursday.

Nadia, who also serves as the Public Health Secretary of the Indonesian Ministry of Health, said that antibodies begin to form one to two weeks after the booster vaccination or booster dose.

The government asks the public to carry out booster vaccinations well before going home as a condition for traveling to their hometowns.

The Ministry of Health has also prepared a booster vaccination service post on the homecoming route to make it easier for travelers to get the vaccination. This facility can be used by people who have a booster vaccination schedule when going home.

The number and placement of posts, said Nadia, will be coordinated with the Ministry of Transportation, TNI and Polri. Because this is also related to the supply of human resources as well as the management of the vaccine cold chain.

The number of vaccines provided during this Eid homecoming, continued Nadia, was adjusted to the number of homecoming posts. For example, a large homecoming post can reach 1,000 doses, while a small post has around 150 to 300 doses.

Furthermore, if there is a Post-Immunization Adverse Event (AEFI), said Nadia, the procedure for handling AEFI will still be prepared.

"So there will be an ambulance on standby who will take it if there is a case of AEFI which of course meets the criteria for needing hospital treatment. But if the AEFI is mild, it is enough to take a pain reliever such as paracetamol," he said.