This second booster has received the emergency use authorization (EUA) from BPOM (Food and Drug Supervisory Agency) and after considering the availability of existing vaccinesJakarta (ANTARA) - Elderly people with comorbidities must take the second COVID-19 booster vaccine without delay to get optimal protection against the risk of infection, the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture has said.
Second booster vaccinations for the elderly were rolled out in November 2022, deputy for the coordination of health quality improvement and population development at the ministry, Agus Suprapto, noted here on Friday.
"This second booster has received the emergency use authorization (EUA) from BPOM (Food and Drug Supervisory Agency) and after considering the availability of existing vaccines," he explained.
The second booster is meant to be administered within an interval of six months after the first booster dose, he informed.
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"The COVID-19 vaccination for the elderly is being undertaken at health service facilities and/or at COVID-19 vaccination service posts," he said.
The second booster is very important for the elderly, especially those who have comorbidities, Suprapto emphasized.
It is being undertaken to provide comprehensive protection, reduce the hospitalization rate, and prevent severe symptoms from developing upon COVID-19 infection.
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"We need to remember that we currently are still in COVID-19 pandemic condition, thus a number of efforts to protect ourselves and our families from the risk of COVID-19 infection need to be undertaken," he remarked.
Meanwhile, head of profession development at the Indonesian Epidemiologists Association, Masdalina Pane, said that increasing public mobility during the end-of-the-year holidays should be responded with health protocol strengthening.
"Increasing mobility will not be a problem as long as it is responded with health protocol (strengthening) given that we are still in the COVID-19 pandemic period," she added.
Health protocols such as wearing masks, maintaining distance, and washing hands should be implemented amid the potential increase in public mobility during the Christmas and New Year holidays, she stressed.
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Translator: Wuryanti P, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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