"There is a possibility of the (second booster vaccine’s) administration. The government, as per the prevailing guide, believes that changes in the COVID-19 vaccination policy would be dynamic," acting director of immunization management at the ministry's Directorate General of Disease Prevention and Control, Prima Yosephine, informed at an online seminar on Monday.
Further, the government will need to consider the research and opinion of the National Immunization Expert Advisory Committee (ITAGI) before proceeding with the second booster’s distribution, she added.
Under the current policy, health officers handling COVID-19 patients remain the only group eligible for the second booster, the official said.
"While other segments, such as the over-18 adult group, are eligible only for the first booster or the third vaccine dose. The current prevailing policy will remain," she added.
Instead of administering the fourth vaccine dose, the government must focus on ensuring COVID-19 vaccine coverage among the elderly and adults with comorbidities, Yosephine said.
"Booster vaccine coverage among the elderly and adults with comorbidities and immunity issues is still low. We need to achieve 100 percent coverage for this high-risk group, hence, our program remains focused on this group," the acting director said.
The government will continue to make the third vaccine dose a prerequisite for travel and public activities to encourage booster vaccine administration, she informed.
The third vaccine requirement will be included in the travel policy during the Christmas and New Year period and will remain a prerequisite for foreign nationals' entry into Indonesia, she added.
Besides encouraging booster vaccines, the government is cooperating with private messaging application WhatsApp to bolster public health services, she added.
"The ministry is also utilizing WhatsApp to reach those who have their vaccine dose incomplete or are yet to get their booster vaccine despite being eligible. We will contact them several times to remind them to get their primary or booster vaccine doses," Yosephine informed.
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Translator: Hreeloita DS, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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