Tomorrow, Elderly Group Health Workers Start Vaccinating COVID-19

Vaccine illustration. (Steven Cornfield / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said tomorrow, Monday, February 8, the government will start vaccinating COVID-19 for elderly health workers.

This follows a phase 1 vaccination program for health workers aged 18 to 59 who have been vaccinated for some time.

"God willing, tomorrow at 9 am injections for people over 60 years old, preferably starting with health workers over 60 years old," Budi said in a virtual press conference, Sunday, February 7.

This is based on an emergency use authorization for the Sinovac vaccine specifically for the elderly group that has been issued by the Food and Drug Administration (BPOM).

Budi said that the vaccination effort for this vulnerable group is a good initiative because it protects health workers who are classified as vulnerable groups because they are over 60 years of age.

"In the future, friends who are over 60 and susceptible to contracting the COVID-19 disease will have a relatively worse condition than those who are younger, we can reduce it," said Budi.

"So, the burden borne by the health workers in the hospital can be reduced. Because most of the elderly we can prevent, if possible they don't have to go to the hospital," he continued.

The Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Sinovac vaccine to be injected into the elderly.

Previously, Sinovac's emergency permit as a vaccine for COVID-19 was issued on January 11. However, at that time, emergency clearance was only for the 18 to 59 age group.

"On February 5, 2021 yesterday, the POM has issued an approval for the use of the CoronaVac (Sinovac) vaccine for people over 60 years of age with 2 doses of vaccine injections given in 28 days intervals," said Head of BPOM Penny K. Lukito.

The basis for determining the emergency permit for the Sinovac vaccine for the elderly is the result of the Sinovac phase III clinical trial specifically for the elderly in Brazil. This clinical trial involved 600 elderly volunteers.

"It has been obtained that giving the vaccine to the age group of 60 years and over states the vaccine is safe and there are no side effects in the form of death, or serious third degree side effects that have been reported," he said.