People are still getting infected, with the figure reaching 123 in the central office
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Communication and Informatics Minister Johnny G. Plate requested his ministry's employees to take the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, or booster shot, following a continued rise in the number of domestic Omicron cases.

"President Jokowi has ordered those, who had been completely vaccinated and can receive the booster shot now, to immediately get vaccinated," the minister noted in a press statement on Saturday.

At a meeting with cabinet ministers several days ago, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) urged the people to take the booster vaccination to improve their body's immunity and to stem the spread of COVID-19, especially the Omicron variant.

"The government had readied steps to thwart the spread of the new variant of COVID-19," he noted.

"However, to bolster protection, I ordered all employees to receive booster vaccination and continue to implement stringent health protocols in their daily lives, especially while working in the office," he remarked.

The third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine has proven to be safe and effective in bolstering the body's immunity.

In fact, according to the government's clinical trial, administering the booster vaccine to the research subjects showed no side effects or severe adverse events following immunization (AEFI).

"I had ordered to impose work restrictions, but it is not sufficient. People are still getting infected, with the figure reaching 123 in the central office," he remarked.

"Hence, the one strategy that we push for is expediting this booster vaccination," he affirmed.

Some 600 employees of the ministry are vaccinated every day. The ministry, for the early stage, is targeting to have all employees in the central office and in and around Jakarta to participate in the booster vaccination.

The third dose of vaccination has been administered in Indonesia since January 12, 2022. The government has urged all citizens to partake in the advance vaccination program to maintain immunity and to keep COVID-19 in check.

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Translator: Natisha A, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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