JAKARTA - Field epidemiologist from Jenderal Sudirman University (Unsoed) dr. Yudhi Wibowo assessed that the government's policy regarding the implementation of the COVID-19 booster vaccination or second booster for health workers was the right step.
"This policy is very appropriate, to provide optimal protection for health workers," Yudhi said as quoted by Antara, Sunday.
The lecturer at the Unsoed Faculty of Medicine said that protection for health workers was very important amid the increase in COVID-19 cases.
"Given that currently the development of COVID-19 cases shows an increasing trend with the emergence of new Omicron subvariants such as BA.4 and BA.5, increasing protection for health workers who have a high risk of exposure to COVID-19 is very important," he said.
Related to this, giving a second booster or booster dose for health workers is expected to provide comprehensive protection.
"This effort is very appropriate if it is based on the average survival rate of immunity from vaccination, which is 6 months post-injection," he said.
Thus, the second booster is expected to increase the level of antibodies to fight COVID-19 infection.
"Along with the implementation of the second booster dose for health workers, the government also needs to continue to increase the coverage of the third dose of vaccination for the general public," he said.
According to him, socialization regarding booster doses of vaccination should continue to be intensified in order to increase public awareness and understanding.
"Socialization that boosters function to provide optimal protection in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic must continue to be intensified," he said.
Meanwhile, as previously announced, the Directorate General of Disease Prevention and Control of the Indonesian Ministry of Health issued Circular No. HK 02.02/C/3615/2022 regarding the 2nd Booster Dose of COVID-19 Vaccination for Health Human Resources.
This is because Human Resources or health human resources are a group that has a high risk of being exposed to COVID-19, as well as considering the increasing number of health workers infected with COVID-19.
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