59 Million Indonesians Have Been Injected With COVID-19 Boosters

Illustration of a COVID-19 vaccine for a booster. (Antaranews)

JAKARTA - The COVID-19 Task Force (Satgas) noted that the recipients of the third dose of COVID-19 vaccine or booster in Indonesia had reached 59,046,702 people as of Friday, August 19 at 12.00 WIB.

This data includes the number of people receiving booster vaccines today as many as 117,645 people.

Based on data from the Task Force on Friday, August 19, an increase in the coverage of the second or complete dose of vaccination also occurred. Noted, recipients of the second dose rose 31,653 people. Now, the total is 170,589,897.

Then the recipients of the first dose rose 44,739 people. The total number of recipients of the first dose currently stands at 203,082,619.

The latest report by the Task Force includes data on recipients of the fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, which has reached 272,716 people, an increase of 1,337 from the previous day.

With a note, the new dose is focused on health workers only.

The Task Force also said that currently the total population targeted for COVID-19 vaccination is 234,666,020. It is hoped that the target will be achieved so that the community's antibodies are maintained in a sustainable manner.

Coordinator of the COVID-19 Confectionary Task Force Expert Team, Wiku Adisasmito, asked the local government to encourage the achievement of booster vaccines, especially those who are still experiencing an increase in high cases.

"I'm not tired of asking local governments who still haven't met the 30 percent target for booster vaccines. In particular, areas that are still experiencing a high increase in cases," said Wiku, quoted by Antara.

Therefore, the effectiveness of the vaccine will decrease after six months for normal adults and three months for the elderly.

Therefore, the role of regional leaders such as governors, mayors and regents down to the grassroots level in RT/RW is very important to invite the public to carry out COVID-19 vaccinations, including booster doses that are now being intensified by the central government.

"In principle, the government always continues to socialize and protect the community in order to maintain high herd immunity," he said.