"This booster is intended to build antibodies, and they are formed in one or two weeks. Do not take the booster vaccine one day before departure," Syahril advised in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian has issued Circular Letter No. 440/3917/SJ regarding the Acceleration of Booster Vaccination for the Community, he noted. The circular has been delivered to all regional heads in Indonesia as of July 11, 2022.
The circular outlines several directives. For instance, it makes booster vaccinations a requirement for entering public facilities such as offices, factories, public parks, tourist attractions, museums, restaurants, cafés, shopping centers or malls, trade centers, and other public areas.
People who cannot get vaccinated for medical reasons will need to obtain a doctor's certificate from a hospital or government health facility. Children under 18 years old have also been excluded from the regulation.
Minister Karnavian has also instructed governors and regional heads to accelerate booster vaccinations up to the sub-district, village, and neighborhood levels by involving related elements.
Regional heads have been asked to intensify the implementation of booster vaccinations centrally in public places such as offices, factories, places of worship, markets, and terminals.
Before getting the booster shot, recipients must pay attention to the vaccine interval so that the perfect level of antibodies is formed in their body, Syahril said.
"Please pay attention to the injection interval. Make sure that the antibody has been formed before going on a trip," he added.
Syahril also assured that the vaccine stocks in Indonesia for administering the first and second vaccine doses are still sufficient amid the acceleration of booster vaccinations.
"The percentage of booster vaccines in Indonesia is now at 25 percent, even though it should have been 50 percent. We need to achieve another 25 million doses. It takes hard work because some people are reluctant, so we need to implement a strategy," he remarked.
As part of the booster vaccination strategy, the Health Ministry has reactivated vaccination centers in a number of public spaces and increased the education of the public.
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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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