Epidemiologist: Booster Vaccination Helps Prevent Long COVID-19 During Endemic

Illustration - Kendari Class IIA Prison Staff during a booster vaccination (Photo via ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Epidemiologist from Griffith University Australia, Dicky Budiman, emphasized that the administration of a third dose of vaccination (booster) can help prevent the potential for long Covid-19 as the country prepares to enter an endemic period.

“A study proved that the third dose also significantly reduced the potential for long covid if exposed and the impact of long covid was varied. That is what is harming us and the vaccine really helps us to control this outbreak," said Dicky when contacted in Jakarta, Antara, Wednesday, May 25.

Dicky said the role of booster vaccination in all countries, especially during the Omicron wave, which tends to be more easily transmitted, became very effective in protecting themselves from virus transmission.

Booster vaccination is an effort that is truly effective in providing protection to vulnerable groups, both the elderly, comorbid patients and children who have not been able to participate in getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

In fact, according to one study, said Dicky, booster vaccination can make the duration of immune protection in a person's body much more increased and can last longer.

Especially for a country like Indonesia that needs extra protection to prevent imbalances in immunity in each province, at the district to village level. As well as maintaining the body's immunity which has decreased after six months since the last vaccination dose was given.

According to Dicky, even though the pandemic in Indonesia is under control or the country has entered an endemic period, the slowing down of cases should not be underestimated because transmission will still occur.

“For a country like Indonesia, say with booster vaccination coverage which is still below 50 percent, especially for the elderly, it still hasn't reached 50 percent even in some areas, it has a very high level of vulnerability. The slope cannot be observed as the situation is safe and under control," he said.

The sloping of cases must be watched out for because along with increasing immunity among the community, the impact that occurs in the transmission of COVID-19 is that people who are confirmed positive tend to have mild or asymptomatic symptoms.

As a result, the position of vulnerable groups becomes very dangerous because it can increase the potential for fatalities due to COVID-19, namely the number of deaths that are still increasing in Indonesia.

Therefore, Dicky requested that all parties immediately get a COVID-19 vaccine while strengthening health protocols to break the chain of virus transmission.

“I strongly urge everyone who has not and it is time to receive the third dose to immediately go to a health facility. We have a role individually to protect our closest family,” said Dicky.