Indonesia Mulls Rollout of Fourth Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine
Indonesia was mulling the rollout of the fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccines as the pandemic is predicted to last longer than expected and the antibodies decline after six months of inoculation, Health Ministry spokesman Mohammad Syahril said on Friday.
Jakarta, July 23: Indonesia was mulling the rollout of the fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccines as the pandemic is predicted to last longer than expected and the antibodies decline after six months of inoculation, Health Ministry spokesman Mohammad Syahril said on Friday.
"Some countries have started it, and Indonesia is planning it as the pandemic lasts," Syahril said. The vulnerable groups such as medical workers, people with comorbidity, the elderly, and public workers will be prioritized to receive the fourth dose. Also Read | COVID-19: Poland To Offer Fourth Dose of Coronavirus Vaccine to People Aged 60–79, Announces Health Minister Adam Niedzielski.
The COVID-19 vaccination rate in Indonesia has reached 97 per cent for the first dose, 81 per cent for the second dose, and 26 per cent for the third dose.
Dicky Budiman, an epidemiologist from Griffith University Australia, said a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is still needed to reduce hospitalization and mortality.
The presence of the Omicron BA.2.75 subvariant will make the pandemic duration last longer, while the transmission of BA.4 and BA.5 has not yet reached its peak, he said. "I predict the vulnerable or crisis period from this fourth wave will last until October," said Budiman.
Indonesia confirmed 4,834 new cases on Friday, bringing the total tally to 6,159,328, with accumulated recoveries of 5,964,196 and deaths of 156,893. (ANI/Xinhua)
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)