Epidemiologists Remind The Importance Of Booster Vaccines To Prevent The Severity Of COVID-19 Infection

Dicky Budiman/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - Epidemiologist from Griffith University Australia, Dicky Budiman, urged the government to continue to pursue the booster vaccination target to prevent the severity and even death of COVID-19.

"The third dose of vaccine is important, although we know that BA.5, BA.4, BA.2.75 are more resistant to reducing antibody efficacy. But it decreases in terms of the ability to protect oneself from infection. However, in terms of effectiveness in preventing severity and mortality it remains high, " said Dicky who was confirmed in Jakarta, Tuesday, July 19.

Dicky said many people have not received the full dose of vaccine. In fact, the effectiveness of boosters in preventing severe impacts due to COVID-19 has been proven in various countries.

According to data from the COVID-19 Task Force, as of Monday, July 18, only 53,126,957 people have been vaccinated against the booster vaccine from a total target of 208,265,720 in Indonesia.

"Although the achievement of doses one and two is quite large, it is not enough to prevent BA.

According to Dicky, more vaccination centers should be in public areas to increase vaccination achievements. In addition, the public must also receive education about the risks, benefits, and even contraindications of the vaccine.

Dicky said that so far the government's communication was still not precise and effective. "Communications conveyed more often spread optimism, so that people thought the pandemic was over. I think pandemic literacy is still minimal. We must build this by conveying what it is," he said.

Meanwhile, DPR Commission IX member Darul Siska hoped that apart from campaigning for the importance of vaccines, increasing public awareness of the importance of implementing health protocols should also be a concern for all parties.

"Changing the mindset is important that we are still under the threat of COVID-19. Cleanliness must be a lifestyle," he said.

According to Darul, all people from the government to the RT level, community leaders, and religious leaders, must be involved in delivering messages that emphasize the importance of healthy living and maintaining cleanliness.

"People are getting more and more ignorant, feeling that COVID-19 has passed because schools are allowed, public facilities have been opened. The problem is that if community activities are not opened, the economy will not move," he said.