Data shows that 1.2 million people in the five areas received the second vaccine dose six months ago, thus they are eligible for the booster shot, head of the Yogyakarta Health Office, Pembajun Setyaningastuti, said in Bantul, Yogyakarta on Thursday.
The immunity provided by the vaccine is believed to wane after six months, therefore, people who have completed six months since taking the second dose will be given the booster dose, she explained.
The booster shot is expected to strengthen their immune system against the coronavirus, she said. Seventy-five percent of Yogyakarta residents are expected to receive the booster vaccine in order to achieve group immunity, she added.
The booster vaccination program at Jogja Expo Center, Bantul, Yogyakarta will be conducted from January 13 to January 15, 2022, she informed.
The program aims to vaccinate approximately five thousand people, and will prioritize the elderly, public servants, and education personnel, including teachers, she said.
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"Our target for three days is five thousand, although the daily allocation (of doses) is 1,500," Setyaningastuti said.
Three brands—AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Moderna—will be administered as boosters during the program, she added.
However, the program will prioritize people who have taken the Sinovac vaccine for the first and second doses, she said. They can use either AstraZeneca or Pfizer for the third dose, she added.
Meanwhile, head of the Yogyakarta Vaccination Task Force, Sumadi, said that after Jogja Expo Center, booster vaccinations will be conducted at the district and city levels, which could be accessed by the public through public health centers.
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Translator: Luqman Hakim, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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