Booster Vaccine Polemic, PKS: Officials Should Be Shame On People Who Have Not Received Their First Dose

JAKARTA - A number of officials claimed to have received the third dose of vaccination or booster vaccine. In fact, based on the Circular of the Ministry of Health Number HK.02.01/1919/2021, boosters are only given to health workers and health support personnel who have received the first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The booster vaccine polemic emerged after a number of officials' conversations were leaked during President Joko Widodo's visit to review the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination in East Kalimantan. The official said he had received a third shot or booster of the vaccine.

Most of them get booster vaccines using Nusantara vaccines which have not yet received permission from the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM). Meanwhile, the Governor of East Kalimantan, who was present at the time, admitted that he had received the Moderna vaccine booster, which was actually intended for health workers.

In response, the chairman of the PKS DPP, Mardani Ali Sera, said that the official who received the booster should be ashamed of what he had done. The reason is that vaccines are still not fully implemented in Indonesia.

"We should be ashamed to get the third one while there are still many Indonesians in some places who haven't received the first vaccine," said Mardani, Wednesday, August 25.

Mardani said it was against the existing rules. The reason is that the provision of a COVID-19 vaccine booster is only carried out for health workers who have a high risk.

"Pak Jokowi (Joko Widodo) needs to firmly emphasize the rules. If necessary, a warning will be given," said Mardani.

For information, currently, there are 59.01 million people receiving the first dose of vaccination in Indonesia. This figure is still not half of the vaccination target of 208.26 million people.

Chronology of Leaking Official Recognition Get Booster Vaccine

The recognition of the booster vaccine was revealed when a number of officials chatted with President Joko Widodo during a visit to East Kalimantan, yesterday. At that time, the president's agenda was to review the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination at SMPN 22 Samarinda City, East Kalimantan. The event was broadcast live on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel. Jokowi was accompanied by Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, TNI Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, East Kalimantan Governor Isran Noor, and Samarinda Mayor Andi Harun.

They can be seen chatting and the conversation can be heard in the video. The officials discussed the Nusantara Vaccine, which was initiated by the former Minister of Health, Terawan Agus Putranto, to the booster vaccine.

The Mayor of Samarinda Andi Harun at that time admitted that he had received two vaccine injections and planned to try the Nusantara vaccine as a booster. "The Nusantara vaccine booster, Mr. Terawan," said Andi. ," Jokowi said with a laugh. Jokowi then asked the TNI Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto whether he had also received the Nusantara vaccine. "Pak Commander has taken Nusantara?" Jokowi asked. "Yes," replied Marshal Hadi. "You didn't invite us, did you," said Jokowi jokingly. Governor Isran Noor later also admitted that he had received a booster injection using the Moderna vaccine. "I've had a booster, only Moderna," said Isran. Prabowo then asked Jokowi whether he had received a booster injection or not. "Have you all boosted, Mr President, haven't you?" Prabowo asked. "No, I'm waiting for Pfizer," said Jokowi. A number of media then reported on the conversation. Before long, the live streaming video was deleted. Then it was re-uploaded, but the video has been edited by removing the conversation about the booster vaccine earlier.

Regarding this issue, the Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, was asked to be given a sanction. Because the authority to give vaccines is under the full responsibility of the Minister of Health. The Minister of Health is considered to have violated the regulation SE HK.02.01/1919/2021 which states that booster vaccines are only for health workers.

Ministry of Health Evaluation of Booster Vaccines

The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) will evaluate the injection of the third or booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Spokesperson for COVID-19 Vaccination at the Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said that her party had prepared an auditor related to the evaluation. Indonesia online, Wednesday, August 25. Nadia said the third dose of COVID-19 vaccination was only given to health workers. This provision has been stated in the Circular Letter of the Director General of Disease Prevention and Control Number HK.02.01/1/1919/2021. However, Nadia did not comment further on officials who received vaccine boosters. He only said that the implementation of the vaccine booster is the responsibility of the regions. "In accordance with the SE, the third dose or booster vaccination is only given to health workers and this is the responsibility of the regional government," he said.

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