One thing we know for sure is that the Omicron variant’s transmission (rate) is faster and it can circumvent the body’s immune system
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Omicron variant can infect people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, spokesperson for COVID-19 vaccinations for the Health Ministry, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, highlighted at a virtual discussion on Friday.

“It (Omicron variant) can infect vaccinated people,” she remarked.

Based on research on infections in South Africa, the Omicron variant can infect people who have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and cause mild to moderate symptoms, she noted.

“One thing we know for sure is that the Omicron variant’s transmission (rate) is faster and it can circumvent the body’s immune system,” she explained.

For this reason, it is essential for people to implement the health protocols consistently, Tarmizi said.

The Omicron variant can evade both natural immunity and immunity acquired from COVD-19 shots, she pointed out.

It can also transmit faster than the Delta variant that previously caused a surge in cases in Indonesia, the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, according to research, the Omicron variant can reduce a vaccine's effectiveness and ability to neutralize the virus, she added.

The effectiveness of the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against Omicron is just 33 percent, she noted.

The first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Indonesia in March 2020. According to data provided by the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, as of December 24, 2021, at least 4,261,412 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the country, while 4,112,706 people have recovered, and 144,047 people have succumbed to the deadly virus.

On December 16, 2021, the Health Ministry confirmed the first Omicron case in Indonesia, with a janitor at the Wisma Atlet Emergency Hospital, Jakarta, diagnosed with the virus. So far, the case count for Omicron in Indonesia has increased to eight.

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Translator: Martha Herlinawati, Raka Adji
Editor: Sri Haryati
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