Booster Vaccine Stock In South Sulawesi Safe Anticipating Vaccination Surges For Lebaran Homecoming

UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION

MAKASSAR - The South Sulawesi Health Service stated that the stock of booster vaccines in the region is safe to anticipate a surge in demand for the third dose of vaccination ahead of the 2022 Eid homecoming or Idul Fitri 1443 Hijriah.

Head of the Disease Prevention and Control Division of the South Sulawesi Health Office, Husny Thamrin, said that the stock of South Sulawesi's COVID-19 vaccine was 1,871,655 doses as of April 5, 2022.

"The current stock of vaccines 1, 2 and boosters is still safe. We are still providing services at hospitals and health centers," said Husny, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, April 5.

However, he said, in this month of Ramadan, government hospitals and health centers in Makassar have their respective schedules to provide vaccine injection services.

"In this Ramadan, vaccinations will continue, there are individual schedules and we still urge the public to participate in vaccinations, especially when going home requires a booster vaccine if you don't want an antigen or PCR test," he said.

Until entering the third day of Ramadan 1443 H, Husny admitted that public interest in taking vaccinations decreased. However, he is optimistic that vaccinations will increase again in the middle of Ramadan, because many people are going home.

Therefore, it is very possible that the South Sulawesi Health Service will deploy mobile vaccinations to target a number of areas that have the potential to facilitate public access to booster vaccinations.

"We have a vaccine car, which means that if the demand gets higher, we can open vaccine outlets such as at airports and bus terminals," said Husny.

Responding to the mandatory rule for booster vaccines for Eid homecoming, a number of private parties, communities, organizations and institutions have sent letters for the implementation of booster vaccinations.

"We will deploy vaccinators and mobile vaccines to reach them," he said.