Association Of Doctors Calls Mpox Vaccine Only Given To High-Risk People

Illustration of the injection of a monkeypox vaccine or monkeypox (Mpox). (Mufid M-Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Skin and Gender Specialists (Perdoski) Hanny Nilasari explained that monkeypox (Mpox) vaccines are only given to high-risk people.

"This is already a special target. Not for the public but for a special population that really needs it," said Hanny in an online discussion held by the DKI Jakarta Health Service (Dinkes), Wednesday, August 28, which was confiscated by Antara.

In more detail, Hanny explained that the group targeted was an NGO (male having sex with men) with certain criteria and people with Human Immunodeficiency Virus ( HIV).

In addition, the Mpox vaccine also targets individuals who have been in contact with Mpox sufferers in the last two weeks, as well as laboratory officers examining Mpox specimens and health workers who treat Mpox patients.

Hanny appealed that the Mpox vaccine target must receive two doses in the first phase. This is intended so that the vaccine can work effectively.

Hanny explained that the Ministry of Health provided 4,450 doses of vaccination targeted at more than 2,000 target targets for two doses each.

For DKI Jakarta itself, continued Hanny, there were 495 vaccines that had been given to high-risk populations from the administrative cities of Central Jakarta, South Jakarta, West Jakarta, and East Jakarta.

"Alhamdulillah, the first dose has been achieved 100 percent of the planned target. But the second dose is only 430. There are about 65 people who are not targeted for the second dose," said Hanny.

However, the public is still asked to be vigilant against this disease. The way to prevent this is to avoid physical contact with people who have a prone rash, avoid sexual contact with risky groups, and maintain sanitation by regularly washing hands with soap.