Is It Necessary To Give A Third Dose Of COVID-19 Vaccine To The General Public?

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government implemented a third dose of booster vaccine for health workers (nakes), following the high spike in positive cases and mutations of the COVID-19 virus.

Giving the third dose of vaccine to health workers then raises the question of whether in the future the general public will need to get another dose of vaccine.

The President Director of the Infectious Disease Hospital, Prof. Dr. Sulianti Saroso, dr. Syahril Mansyur Sp.P, said that currently giving the third dose of vaccine is still a priority for health workers.

"Booster for health workers has started by using the Moderna vaccine. Later, for others, it will be carried out in priority and gradually," said dr. Syahril was quoted by Antara, Wednesday, July 21.

Agree with Syahril, Medical Senior Manager of PT Kalbe Farma, dr. Esther Kristiningrum said that giving booster vaccines is prioritized for health workers because they are the front line in handling COVID-19. However, she argues, it is possible for the general public to get an additional dose of the vaccine.

"For the public, of course, you can (get) a booster. However, how long the effectiveness of the vaccine is is still under research, so it's possible that after a few months, the antibodies to the second vaccine will decrease, so a booster is needed," said dr. Esther.

When asked about the effectiveness of vaccines with new variants or mutations of the virus, she said all vaccines still tend to be effective, although there is also the possibility of effectiveness.

dr. Esther said, people don't need to panic, because the most important thing is to get two complete doses of vaccination first to form a good defense and immunity, before finally reaching communal immunity (herd immunity).

"What is important now is how we achieve herd immunity first, at least around 70-75 percent so that we can inhibit transmission. On the other hand, the third dose of vaccine is still coming in stages, so that health workers are a priority to get the third dose of vaccine," she explained.

For information, on Friday, July 16, a vaccine booster was carried out for health workers at the Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo National Central General Hospital (RSCM), Jakarta. The health workers who received the booster were those who had received two doses of the Sinovac vaccine.

The Moderna vaccine from the United States is said to have 94 percent efficacy and has arrived in Indonesia as many as 4,500,160 doses. The vaccine has also received emergency use authorization from BPOM and is allocated for the government's vaccine program.

If you look outside, a number of other countries in the world have also considered giving a third dose of vaccine. Quoting Turkey's Anadolu News Agency, Sweden will start giving the third dose of the coronavirus vaccine this fall.

Richard Bergstrom, the country's vaccination coordinator, said a person could still be infected with the coronavirus even after receiving two doses of the vaccine.

He advised everyone to be careful. "A third dose must be given," he added.