The target, according to epidemiologists, is people with high risk, so they need to be vaccinatedJakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Health stated that monkeypox vaccination would be specifically targeted for people at high risk to prevent transmission and severe symptoms when infected with the virus.
"The target, according to epidemiologists, is people with high risk, so they need to be vaccinated," Director General of Pharmacy and Medical Devices of the Ministry of Health Rizka Andalusia stated when met at the Sujudi Building of the Ministry of Health here on Thursday.
According to Andalusia, the Ministry of Health had made a contract to order two thousand doses of the monkeypox vaccine that are expected to arrive in the country this year.
Andalusia noted that the vaccine would be administered to targeted people, who have not been infected with the monkeypox virus.
Related news: BPOM readies three strategies to obtain monkeypox vaccines, drugs
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared monkeypox as a global health emergency.
The WHO stated that three groups are most susceptible to contracting monkeypox, including people living with or having a history of close contact, including engaging in sexual activities, with someone infected with monkeypox or those coming in regular contact with animals that can be infected with the virus.
Health workers are also categorized as an at-risk group. Hence, they need to consistently implement the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) procedure.
Moreover, newborns, children, and people with weakened immune systems are at risk of developing more serious symptoms of monkeypox and succumbing to the disease.
Related news: First Indonesian monkeypox patient has recovered: Health Minister
Regarding the supply of medicines for monkeypox patients, she said Indonesia had imported Cidofovir for monkeypox from Singapore.
"As there are not many cases (in Indonesia), we are centralizing the storage of Cidofovir in the central pharmacy warehouse of the Health Ministry," she remarked.
In Indonesia, 42 suspected cases of monkeypox were recorded by the Ministry of Health until August 30, 2022. Of the figure, one has been confirmed positive for monkeypox, and the patient has been declared cured, 38 cases confirmed not positive for monkeypox, and the other three are still under evaluation.
Related news: Bio Farma prepares to procure three vaccines against monkeypox
Related news: Jynneos, Smallpox vaccines can be used for monkeypox in Indonesia
Translator: Andi Firdaus, Raka Adji
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
