Indef Economist Asked The Government To Keep Doing 3T And Not Dependent On COVID-19 Vaccination

Illustration of vaccine administration (Doc. Special)

JAKARTA - Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF) senior economist Enny Sri Hartati asked the government to continue the tracing, testing and treatment process or 3T in an effort to control COVID-19 in the country.

The reason is that the COVID-19 vaccine is not a drug that can eliminate COVID-19. So, said Enny, vaccination is not effective enough in preventing the transmission of the virus.

"Even though the COVID-19 vaccine has been found, it is not a cure. So the government still has to do optimal prevention with 3T," he said, during a virtual discussion entitled 'Vaccines and Prospects for Economic Recovery', Saturday, December 19.

According to Enny, through 3T there will be many benefits that can be obtained in an effort to break the chain of virus spread. One of them is to detect the spread of virus transmission in the community. So, the government can find out what steps to take next.

"Because without the 3T we cannot find which people are infected. So, 3T must be done," he explained.

Enny also asked the government not to ignore 3T, even though the COVID-19 vaccine from China has arrived in Indonesia. "Because all vaccines are preventive so you don't catch the flu, like in the flu season, but to be able to avoid (COVID-19) the vaccine itself is not enough," he said.

Furthermore, said Enny, if the government had succeeded in overcoming the main problem, namely the COVID-19 pandemic, then it could only focus on economic recovery.

"Because if people are not afraid of the pandemic, their activities will return to normal, it will certainly restore various kinds of activities that have been constrained or forced to close. That is clear, economically, it must have a direct impact," he explained.