The Requirements For The Booster Vaccine Become The Focus Of The Mataram City COVID-19 Handling Task Force In Supervision Of The 2022 Eid Homecoming

Eid homecoming illustration. (Photo via Antara)

JAKARTA - The government has given the "green light" for the community to carry out Lebaran 2022 homecoming. However, there are conditions that must be met, namely booster vaccines.

This booster vaccine requirement will be the focus of the Mataram City COVID-19 Handling Task Force in monitoring the 2022 Eid homecoming. This was stated by I Nyoman Swandiasa, as a spokesman.

"Booster vaccination is now one of the requirements for people who are going to go out of the area so that they do not do the antigen swab test," he said, as quoted by Antara, Saturday, April 16.

The Mataram City COVID-19 Handling Task Force has also prepared a scheme for the 2022 Lebaran homecoming control post. This is an anticipatory measure for the increase in COVID-19 cases due to the arrival of travelers from various big cities outside the region.

Idul Fitri homecoming control posts will be established at several strategic points, especially city entrances. "We will also coordinate the creation of the post with the TNI/Polri who usually monitor the flow of homecoming for Eid," he said

With the development of COVID-19 which is currently quite sloping, the central government provides relaxation, but remains within the framework of the COVID-19 protocol, especially using masks and boosters.

"Because of that, we also ask the city residents who are going to go to other areas to immediately carry out a booster vaccination," said the man who also serves as the Head of the Mataram City Communication and Information Office (Diskominfo).

Furthermore, Swandiasa said, the coverage of the third or booster dose of COVID-19 vaccination in Mataram has reached almost 20 percent of the target target of 315,584 people. The coverage increased significantly compared to before the fasting month which was still below 10 percent.

According to Swandiasa, the increase in booster coverage during the month of Ramadan is in line with the government's policy to make boosters a requirement for the 2022 Eid homecoming.

The booster service at the Mataram City Hospital, which is usually a maximum of 20-30 people a day, now reaches up to 150 more people per day. This does not include services at 11 Puskesmas.

"The booster vaccination is specifically for those aged 18 years and over, while the vaccination of children under 18 years old is sufficient for the second dose," he said.

Based on data as of April 14, 2022 from the NTB Provincial Health Office, the Mataram City vaccination coverage for the first dose reached 365,695 or 115.88 percent, the second dose 280,939 or 89.02 percent.