Ms. Supports The Fourth Dose Of The COVID-19 Vaccine, But Don't Ignore The First Booster

Photo by Mufid Majnun on Unsplash

JAKARTA - The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, supports the plan for the fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine or the second booster, which is currently being prioritized for health workers.

Puan encourages the Government to increase the provision of the first booster for the general public considering the low coverage.

"The provision of a second booster for health workers needs to be carried out considering the trend of increasing COVID-19 cases in Indonesia. Health workers are the group most at risk of being infected because they are at the forefront of handling COVID-19," said Puan, Friday, July 29.

Cases of COVID-19 have experienced a significant spike in recent times. Even the addition of cases has reached more than seven thousand in one day.

The first target of the fourth dose vaccination program is 4 million health workers throughout Indonesia. Health workers became the second priority for booster vaccination following two doctors who died when the new variant of Omicron spread in Indonesia.

Puan appealed to all health workers who had received the first booster COVID-19 vaccination six months ago to quickly join the second booster vaccine program. Puan also hopes that the Government will prepare as many vaccines as possible so that the second booster vaccination program can be immediately given to the general public.

“Considering that it is not only health workers who are at risk of contracting it, the second booster vaccination needs to be extended to the general public. Especially for the elderly and other vulnerable groups," he said.

He also highlighted the trend of rising deaths. Indonesia itself has actually succeeded in suppressing cases of COVID-19 deaths, which is believed to be thanks to the massive vaccination program.

"But the decrease in antibodies after six months of vaccination is feared to make people vulnerable to Covid-19 again. Moreover, according to experts, the Omicron variant BA.5 has a higher chance of triggering reinfection," said Puan.

"Experts say that a fourth dose is needed to re-strengthen immunity so that people's immunity is maintained, and of course this step can be an effort to reduce the spread of the new COVID-19 variant," added the former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture.

Puan also reminded the Government to be more serious in increasing vaccination coverage. This is because the coverage of the third or first booster dose of vaccination is still at 25 percent of the target as of July. This figure is far below the coverage of the previous 2 doses of the vaccine.

“With the low coverage of the third or first booster vaccine, the DPR considers that the government needs to make special efforts and more optimal socialization. This includes collaborating with the private sector and various community groups in implementing the booster vaccination program," explained Puan.

The grandson of the proclaimer of the Republic of Indonesia, Bung Karno, said that the low coverage of the first booster will have an impact on community immunity, especially in the midst of the national economic recovery. Meanwhile, said Puan, community mobility has now returned to normal.

“Interventions through policies that require boosters must be increased. That way, public awareness to receive the third dose of vaccine will increase," he said.

Based on research, COVID-19 booster vaccination can reduce the risk of severe symptoms in cases of Omicron BA.5 than Omicron BA.2. The House of Representatives invites people who have not received the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to immediately go to vaccination centers and receive a booster so that their immune system is better maintained amid the increase in Corona cases.

"The threat of COVID-19 still needs to be watched out for, especially for vulnerable groups of people. The public must not be careless with the COVID-19 variant that can be easily transmitted. Taking care of yourself means taking care of your family from the threat of the virus," said Puan.

Furthermore, the Chairman of the DPR RI also requested that activities that have the potential to cause crowds to be reduced first. Puan also asked the government to be more stringent in supervising all sectors of community activity, including Face-to-face Learning (PTM) activities.

"More and more schools have temporarily suspended PTM due to the discovery of COVID-19 cases. The Central Government and Regional Governments need to evaluate health protocols in the school environment," he said.

According to Puan, PTM is very much needed by children after more than 2 years they have undergone distance learning which causes cognitive learning loss. Even so, the findings of the current number of positive cases indicate that the health protocol during PTM is starting to slacken.

“The government must ensure the safety and security of children while in school. Supervision of the implementation of health protocols must be more massive," concluded Puan.