Jakarta (ANTARA) - The West Jakarta city government has expedited booster vaccinations for fully inoculated residents, especially the elderly, to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

The booster vaccinations in all sub-districts are aimed at increasing the immunity of people so that they are not easily infected, acting deputy mayor of West Jakarta, Iin Mutmainnah, said in a statement released here on Friday.

The booster vaccine has started for the elderly. As for employees, it will kick off from early next week, she informed.

The booster vaccination drive aims to cover 200 people in each sub-district of West Jakarta, she said. With even more citizens receiving the third dose of the vaccine, it is believed the spread of the Omicron variant can be further prevented, she added.

"We also remind residents to follow the health protocols during their activities," Mutmainnah reminded.

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In early January this year, a resident of Krukut village, Taman Sari, West Jakarta, contracted Omicron after undergoing a medical test, she noted.

The resident is undergoing self-isolation at the Kemayoran Athlete Village COVID-19 Hospital in Central Jakarta, she said. Additionally, cases of Omicron have been detected in the Kebon Jeruk area, she added.

In a statement issued on Thursday, head of the Kebon Jeruk District Health Center, Yefy Eskar, said that six residents have been exposed to COVID-19, comprising four residents of South Kedoya village and one resident each of Duri Kepa village and North Suka Bumi village.

According to Eskar, they were referred to Kemayoran Athlete's Village Hospital and are currently undergoing self-isolation at the hospital. The sub-district is conducting tracing to monitor the spread of the virus, the official added.

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Translator: Walda Marison, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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