The Ministry Of Health Calls The COVID-19 Vaccination Program When The Endemic Is Still Being Discussed

Illustration of COVID-19 vaccination in the elderly (elderly). (Antaranews)

JAKARTA - Plt. Director of Immunization Management at the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) Prima Yosephine said the status of the COVID-19 vaccination when it was in the endemic phase was still being discussed with the World Health Organization or WHO, which had not yet issued a recommendation in this regard.

"Regarding how the vaccination status was when we entered the endemic phase, whether it was a routine vaccine or what, indeed, until now we are still discussing this," said Prima in a hearing meeting with the House of Representatives Commission IX Committee, Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Tuesday, May 31.

He said that it needed to be submitted to the Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI) as an expert advisory committee on immunization.

In addition, he also mentioned that the WHO has not yet issued a statement or recommendation regarding the COVID-19 vaccination, when it is out of pandemic status.

"So we still can't confirm whether this will become a routine vaccination or become a vaccination of choice," he said.

Prima gave an example of a choice of vaccination, such as the influenza vaccination which is given every year, but is not included in the vaccine program that must be given to the public.

Regarding the determination of the vaccination, it is necessary to study or assess the level of immunity after being given a complete primary vaccination accompanied by a one-dose booster.

On that occasion he said that the COVID-19 vaccination rate showed a downward trend, with the average injection rate over the last seven days around 217,000 injections per day.

The decline in vaccination rates has implications for the distribution period or shelf life of the COVID-19 vaccine.

"Of course, if we can't improve this, it will certainly have implications for some of our vaccines, we know that this COVID-19 vaccine has a short shelf life, so there will definitely be vaccines that reach the end of their shelf life. So it can't be used," he said.