Homecoming From Australia To Indonesia, This Epidemiologist Was Forced To Repeat The COVID-19 Vaccine Twice Even Though He Was Fully Vaccinated

Dicky Budiman receiving the COVID-19 vaccine in Indonesia/Photo: Special

JAKARTA - Epidemiologist from Australia's Grifith University, Dicky Budiman, said that he had received five injections of the COVID-19 vaccine. He got three doses of injections in Australia, two doses of injections he got in Indonesia.

To VOI, Dicky told that he had to repeat the vaccination in Indonesia for two doses. The reason was that the three doses of Pfizer vaccine he received in Australia could not be recorded in the Cares Protect application.

"That's right, I have received five doses of the vaccine. Previously, I was in Australia already receiving three doses of Pfizer vaccine and that is why I was able to come to Indonesia to go home because the main and first requirement is that the person has three doses if he is abroad," said Dicky when contacted, Tuesday, April 26.

Dicky, who entered Indonesia through Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport, had shown the officer his international vaccine certificate.

The certificate, he continued, was in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) standards and was equipped with a barcode. "But it turns out that the barcode system cannot be used in Indonesia," said the epidemiologist.

Dicky who was curious then tried to access the PeduliLindung application and tried to report it via the available hotline. However, the way he did it did not meet the results.

"Then I was asked to wait for about three or five working days. After that it turned out that, while I was quarantined and did a PCR test twice and the results, thank God, were negative, it turned out that the firm confirmed that my vaccination certificate from Australia could not be transferred to PeduliLindung," he said.

"Finally PeduliProtect me is red. I can't fill eHAC. I can't even though I want to go to Bandung from Bali," added Dicky.

Long story short, Dicky can still go to Bandung, West Java, which is his hometown. However, he decided to repeat the injection of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The reason is that, apart from feeling that he has to obey the rules, Dicky is also experiencing difficulties due to the red sign in Care for Protecting him.

"I vaccinated in Bandung to green or remove the red mark in PeduliLindungi because there really is no vaccination status. After the first vaccine, I got Moderna, thank God, I lost my red status in PeduliLindung," he explained.

"Soon I also got an invitation for a second dose," he said.

How does it feel to be vaccinated against COVID-19 five times?

Dicky said there were no significant side effects after getting the vaccine more than three times. He only said that he only felt the usual post-immunization follow-up events (AEFI), such as fever, slight headache, and soreness from the injection.

"But it was only the first two days I felt. After that nothing," he said.

From his story, Dicky asked the public not to worry about getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Because he's been injected five times but doesn't feel anything.

"This denies as well as denies that vaccines are not safe, dangerous. I am normal, safe," he said.

Not only that, he also reminded that this vaccine is very effective in preventing exposure to the virus. Because, since he was vaccinated in Australia until now, he has never tested positive for COVID-19.

"Two things I raise that vaccines are safe and effective," said Dicky.

In addition, he is also not worried that other side effects will occur even though he has been injected with the COVID-19 vaccine five times. The reason, Dicky has read the literature where the definition of a complete vaccine should be between three doses or four doses.

"So after the booster, there is another one. Due to some data, especially in Europe, after the booster after the third dose there is a slowdown in protection. In the previous one, after two doses, three to four months it decreased. Now, there is a trend of six to seven months after the booster. although this has to wait for the following data," he said.

"The DPT vaccine is only used three times in children. So it's not new, the possibility of this COVID-19 vaccine, which is meant by a complete dose, is probably in the three-dose position," concluded Dicky.