Jakarta (ANTARA) - Taking note of the recent increase in COVID-19 cases, the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture has urged Indonesians to support the government's efforts to increase booster vaccination coverage.

"The public needs to support the government's efforts to increase the (rate) of booster vaccinations," deputy for the coordination of health quality improvement and population development at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, Agus Suprapto, said here on Thursday.

The community can make an active contribution by taking the initiative to visit vaccine booths if they have yet to get vaccinated, he explained.

"People who have not received vaccinations, both the first dose and the booster dose, are expected to immediately visit the vaccination center," he said.

Booster vaccination is very useful to provide the best protection for the community, he added.

"Especially in the midst of an increasing trend of COVID-19 cases and the appearance of a new subvariant of Omicron, people should not be careless and be euphoric. Getting complete vaccination up to the third dose is very much necessary," he stressed.

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Besides booster vaccination, everyone needs to follow the health protocols in a disciplined manner.

"This message has been said repeatedly, but in order to increase public awareness and understanding, information dissemination and education must be carried out on an ongoing basis," he said.

He also urged people to remind those around them to immediately get vaccinated if they have not received the vaccine yet.

"Let's remind family members, neighbors, friends, and close people who have not been vaccinated to immediately get COVID-19 vaccinations," he said.

According to head of the National Medical Association’s (IDI’s) COVID-19 Task Force, Prof. Zubairi Djoerban, booster vaccinations are very important for increasing the protection of those who have been vaccinated.

"With a booster vaccination, the protection for individuals will be stronger. Even if (they are) infected, (the symptoms) will be much more mild," he said.

Apart from increasing vaccination coverage, adherence to the health protocols must also be improved, he added.

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Translator: Wuryanti P, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Suharto
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