Cannot Be Simple, Epidemiologists Say Special Efforts To Improve Vaccination Outcomes Are Needed

Field epidemiologist from Jenderal Sudirman University (Unsoed) Purwokerto dr. Yudhi Wibowo/Photo: Antara

PURWOKERTO - Field epidemiologist from Jenderal Soedirman University (Unsoed) Purwokerto Yudhi Wibowo said special efforts were needed to increase booster vaccination achievements, even though the government had issued a mandatory third dose vaccination policy for travelers.

"Yes, it is not easy to deal with the public, because the levels of understanding and backgrounds vary," he said in Purwokerto, Banyumas Regency, Central Java, Monday, July 25.

He acknowledged that the government had taken an approach by making policies that required travelers to have received booster vaccines.

The policy can actually "force" the public to follow the third dose of vaccination, because if it is not made that way, the achievement of booster vaccination will remain low. "That's because people think the pandemic is over, so there's no need for a booster," said Yudhi.

However, he admitted that since the mandatory third dose vaccination policy was implemented starting July 17, 2022, the coverage of booster vaccinations in a number of areas including Banyumas Regency has not shown a significant increase.

Based on data from the Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery (KPC-PEN) on July 14, 2022, the number of Banyumas residents who have received the third dose of vaccination is 421,601 people or 30.15 percent of the target of 1,398,427 targets.

Based on KPC-PEN data as of July 24, 2022, the number of Banyumas residents who have received the third dose of vaccination is 434,256 people or 31.05 percent of the target, so the increase is not too significant.

In this regard, Yudhi advised the government, particularly the Banyumas Regency Government to further intensify its approach to the community in order to increase the coverage of the third dose of vaccination in line with the development of new variants of COVID-19.

According to him, this is because until now the public's understanding of the COVID-19 vaccine is still minimal.

"So, they often don't want to be vaccinated because their blood pressure is high, reaching 150 mmHg. In fact, it's wrong, because people with comorbidities should be the priority for booster vaccines," he said, quoted by Antara.

He said people should not get the vaccine if their blood pressure is above 190/90 mmHg and usually the person concerned will be given medication so that his blood pressure can immediately drop.

Once the blood pressure can be controlled below 190/90 mmHg, the person is allowed to get the vaccine.

"It's the same with diabetes. As long as it can be controlled, it can be vaccinated," said Yudhi.

Therefore, he said, the public's understanding of booster vaccines needs to be straightened out, let alone mixed with hoaxes and others.

In addition to intensifying the approach to the community, he continued, the third dose vaccination activity on a shuttle basis also needs to be increased again, such as during the first and second doses of vaccination.

"Officers (vaccinators) also need to get closer to the community. They can open vaccination services at the village hall or sub-district level," he said.

Thus, he said, people who have met the requirements to get the third dose of vaccine can go to the vaccination service at the village or urban village hall. "This is indeed a challenge that must be worked on together to achieve booster vaccine coverage," said Yudhi.