KOMPAS.com – Indonesia’s Health Ministry started giving second booster shots or fourth coronavirus vaccine doses to the healthcare workers on Friday, July 29.
About 1.9 million health workers in the country are expected to receive the second booster doses of the Covid-19 vaccine amid an increase in the number of infections.
Healthcare workers are prioritized to receive the second Covid boosters as they are considered at high risk for coronavirus infection. Besides, it also refers to the recommendation of the Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI).
The ministry's directorate general of disease prevention and control has issued circular No. HK. 02.02/C/3615/2022 on the second booster dose of Covid-19 vaccination for healthcare workers.
Locations to get the booster shots
Healthcare workers can get their second booster shots at health facilities or vaccination centers as stated in the circular.
Also read:Jokowi Says Covid Vaccine Supply Adequate, Urges Eligible Indonesians to Get Booster Shots
The Covid-19 vaccine that can be used for the second booster dose is the one that has received the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM).
The six vaccines that have been authorized for emergency use are CoronaVac (Sinovac), Corminatory (Pfizer), AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria and Kconecavac), Moderna, Zifivax, and Sinopharm. These will be used for homologous vaccination and heterologous vaccination.
All booster shots are only intended for people aged 18 years and above after six months from the first booster shot.
The benefit of a second booster shot
Kompas.com reported that an epidemiologist at Griffith University in Australia, Dicky Budiman, said that it is important to administer the fourth dose to the healthcare workers. This is to ensure that public health services are protected during the pandemic.
“There is a need for maximum protection for healthcare workers,” said Dicky.
Besides, healthcare workers are also included in the high-risk group as they are dealing directly with patients and people who may be infected with Covid-19.
“They are considered high risk for the coronavirus infection or spreading the virus,” Dicky said.
(Writer: Dandy Bayu Bramasta | Editor: Inten Esti Pratiwi)
