"There is no Kraken sub-variant in Bali. The Health Ministry will definitely inform the public if they found this new sub-variant in Bali," Head of the Bali Provincial Health Service I Nyoman Gede Anom noted on the sidelines of the second booster vaccination for tourism actors in Denpasar, Bali, on Saturday.
According to Anom, as long as the community has taken booster vaccinations, any form of COVID-19 sub-variants will not pose a problem.
"The mutation of the virus will be less harmful than the initial one, and we are ready because (administration of) the second booster has started," Anom remarked.
Hence, he reminded people, who have not received booster vaccinations, to immediately visit health facilities to get booster vaccination injections.
"This is our effort to boost herd immunity," he remarked.
Similar to the strategy applied to the vaccination phases 1, 2, and the first booster, his side will open COVID-19 vaccination posts in hamlet halls or public places.
"Currently, the second booster vaccination in districts and cities has shown progress. We are confident that we can reach the target similar to the first booster vaccine at 82 percent," Anom stated.
Apart from vaccination posts at the hamlet halls, the Bali Provincial Health Service is also targeting vaccination for 17 thousand local civil servants (ASN).
The second booster vaccination for Bali ASN is scheduled to start on January 30, 2023. For this activity, his side will deploy seven teams for 17 days.
Regarding the first booster vaccination for children aged 6-18 years, no official circular from the Ministry of Health had yet been released, he explained.
"The Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) has declared it safe, but the Ministry of Health has not declared it because there are considerations from pediatricians and other things that are taken into consideration," Anom stated.
With no official circular from the Health Ministry, his side will not deliver the vaccine to the public.
"Hopefully, (the circular) will come out as soon as possible, so boosters can be done for children aged 6-18 years," he stated.
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Translator: Ni Luh Rhismawati, Resinta S
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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