20 Provinces Asked To Pursue Achievement Of Second Dose Of COVID-19 Vaccination

JAKARTA - Government Spokesperson for Handling COVID-19 Wiku Adisasmito asked 20 provincial governments to immediately pursue the achievement of the second dose of COVID-19 vaccination or a complete vaccine.

"The step that must be taken is to monitor vaccination data in each district/city including the stock of periodic doses together with the local Health Office for planning good vaccination activities with priority for vulnerable groups," he said, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, February 22.

A total of 20 provinces that must immediately pursue the achievement of the second dose of vaccination, namely DKI Jakarta, Bali, DI Yogyakarta, Riau Islands, East Kalimantan, Central Java, East Java, West Java, North Sumatra, Riau, West Nusa Tenggara, Banten, South Sumatra, Lampung, North Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, West Sumatra, South Kalimantan, Maluku and Papua.

To date, 49 percent of the target population of vaccine recipients have not received the second dose. In fact, there was a decrease in the rate of injection of vaccine doses in February 2022. In fact, vaccines are important to prevent additional cases in one area or importation of cases to other areas.

"The second dose acts as a 'booster' (booster) to ensure the immune system really develops an optimal memory response when fighting the COVID-19 virus again in the future," he said.

Wiku reminded that the administration of the second dose of vaccine should not be delayed from the predetermined schedule. If the second dose of vaccine is given more than six months after the first dose of vaccine is given, then immunity is no longer optimal.

"In accordance with the recommendations of the Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI), if the first dose has been given more than six months ago and the second dose has not been given, then the vaccine needs to be repeated from the first dose," he said.

Therefore, the community needs to complete the vaccination dose according to the vaccine obtained. The use of vaccines with incomplete doses can not cause an optimal immune response.

"Our participation in being vaccinated is very meaningful as an effort to prevent transmission from all aspects apart from implementing health protocols in a disciplined manner," said Wiku.