Budiman Bela: COVID-19 Vaccine Reduces Pain Rate

Researchers are active in the Red and White vaccine research room at the Bio Farma office, Bandung, West Java, Wednesday (12/8/2020). BETWEEN PHOTOS/Dhemas Reviyanto/foc

JAKARTA - The COVID-19 vaccine is still useful for reducing patient morbidity and mortality. This was confirmed by the lecturer and researcher of Medical Microbiology, Molecular Biology, and Immunology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Budiman Bela.

"What is clear is that the vaccine can reduce the occurrence of severe illness, and can reduce the occurrence of death", Budiman, who is the Head of the Red and White Vaccine Development Team at the University of Indonesia, when contacted by Antara, Jakarta, Tuesday, July 20.

He explained that the vaccine that is injected into the body will work to prepare the immune system against COVID-19 infection so that when the COVID-19 virus enters, the body already has an immune system to fight.

Budiman said that although people who have been vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine still have the opportunity to spread the virus, of course not during the period of spreading the virus by people who have not been vaccinated.

"For people who have not been vaccinated, the tendency will be relatively long periods of spreading the virus in their bodies because their immune responses do not appear quickly", he said.

Budiman said that there are several kinds of contents of the existing COVID-19 vaccine, including the first containing the complete virus that has been killed, the second containing some of the viral protein or viral components that can cause an immune reaction to the virus, and the third containing the genetic material of the virus.

"Because viral proteins are considered foreign objects, our bodies will react to create immunity, and this immunity can protect us if at any time we are infected with viruses", he said.

Budiman said the COVID-19 vaccine given to the public had gone through tests to ensure its safety and efficacy. In addition, the vaccine must also have obtained a permit for emergency use authorization (EUA).

Until now in Indonesia, there have been no cases of people dying after undergoing the COVID-19 vaccination. Therefore, it is hoped that the public will not be affected by rumors, false information, or hoaxes circulating regarding vaccines because the government certainly provides vaccines that have guaranteed safety and efficacy for the benefit of public health.