The COVID-19 Task Force Urges Residents To Compress And Drink A Lot If You Feel The Side Effects Of Vaccination

COVID-19 Handling Task Force Spokesperson Wiku Adisasmito (Photo: ANTARA)

AKARTA - Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Wiku Adisasmito advised people who experience symptoms of side effects after vaccination to do compresses and drink lots of water.

"Pain and discomfort after being vaccinated can be reduced with a number of measures, such as compressing the injection area or ensuring proper hydration," Wiku said in a Youtube broadcast by the Presidential Secretariat, Thursday, April 1.

Wiku asked people not to worry if they experience symptoms after vaccination. This is known as a post-immunization follow-up event (AEFI).

"After the vaccination process is carried out, there are two opportunities for unexpected events to occur, namely AEFIs or adverse reactions or side effects," he said.

Wiku said, AEFI was an unexpected event and was not directly related to vaccines. For example, due to genetic influences, the influence of other drugs, medical errors, and other factors.

Meanwhile, adverse reactions are unexpected events and are scientifically proven to be directly related in cause and effect, with vaccines.

AEFI after the COVID-19 vaccination found in the field generally is pain, redness, or swelling in the local injection area. In other cases, the systemic effects that occur after vaccination are fatigue, headaches, muscle and joint aches, or fever.

"In general, the occurrence of side effects of a pharmaceutical product is less than that of its follow-up. Given that the production journey is quite complex with very strict supervision, namely high safety standards at each stage of its development, production, or distribution," he explained.

Wiku said, these incidents are fairly common. However, if it is felt for a long time or more than a month, or it has a severe effect on the body, then the community is expected to proactively report to the health facility for immediate treatment.

"The public needs to understand that the vaccines used in the vaccination program either in Indonesia or in all other countries are classified as new vaccines. So, continuous surveillance related to these follow-up events is very beneficial for the implementation of vaccinations in the future," said Wiku.