By: Abdul Haris)*
The Covid-19 pandemic is still happening and people are asked to always be vigilant. In addition to strictly implementing Prokes (health protocols), the public is also advised to take booster vaccinations that can increase immunity to prevent a spike in Covid-19 cases.
The pandemic makes everyone look for ways to survive the threat of Corona. In addition to complying with health protocols, getting vaccinated is an absolute requirement so as not to contract the Covid-19 virus. Everyone must be injected with the vaccine, not only once or twice, but up to 3 times, aka a booster.
Spokesperson for the Corona Handling Task Force, Professor Wiku Adisasmito, stated that the booster vaccine will strengthen human antibodies after 6 months of being injected with the vaccine (second dose). Especially in the midst of the onslaught of the Covid-19 virus, the Omicron variant and its subvariant (Centaurus).
In a sense, boosters are very important to prevent Corona and the spike in cases. Moreover, currently the number of Corona patients has increased to 6,167 people per day (data as of August 3, 2022). The increase in Corona cases occurred because of the entry of the Omicron subvariant in Indonesia (BA.2.75 aka Centaurus), whose cases have been found in Bali, and it is feared that it has spread to other areas.
The ferocity of the Centaurus subvariance has been felt because of the increase in cases that have occurred again in Indonesia, even though a few months ago there had been a decrease in the number of Corona patients (only around hundreds of people per day). Mutated viruses are usually more virulent, so you have to be careful. Therefore, all Indonesian citizens over the age of 18 are required to inject booster vaccines.
Why do you need a booster when you have 2 vaccines? The reason is because after 6 months, the effectiveness of the vaccine will decrease. Therefore, 6 months after the second dose of Corona vaccine injection, it must be boosted. The goal is to strengthen the body’s immunity again and of course avoid the Covid-19 virus, the Omicron variant and any variant.
Unfortunately, the coverage of the third dose of vaccination is still 50.8 million people or only 25% of the total population of Indonesia. This number is still far from the target and must continue to be increased, so that the coverage is wider and forms herd immunity. If herd immunity has been established, it will prevent a spike in Corona cases in Indonesia and people can get out of the tiring pandemic period.
On the other hand, when many people are lazy for booster vaccines, with the excuse that only 2 vaccine injections are enough or they are afraid of getting side effects, it will be very dangerous. His immune system will be weakened and herd immunity will be difficult to form. As a result, people who have not been vaccinated will get Corona and the pandemic will last much longer, and everyone is still overshadowed by the ferocity of Corona.
Therefore, immediately booster at the nearest hospital or health center. Many private parties have also held mass vaccinations and also provided booster vaccines, and usually this information is on social media. The booster vaccine has very minimal side effects, at most it only hurts for a while and gets sleepy easily, so hurry up and see the booster schedule in the Cares Protect application.
The rule for booster injections is the first one, done after 6 months from the scheduled second dose of Corona vaccine injection. Then, only half the dose is given because it is quite effective in increasing the body’s antibodies. If the first and second doses of vaccine use the Corona Sinovac vaccine, the booster is AstraZaneca or Pfizer. However, if the AstraZaneca vaccine was previously injected, the booster is Moderna.
If everyone is disciplined and has been injected with a booster vaccine, Indonesia will move out of the pandemic phase to the endemic phase. The endemic phase means that Corona is still there but only in certain areas and the transmission is very controlled. When it has entered the endemic phase, it will affect the country’s economy.
Doctor Rizal Fadli stated that there are 4 benefits of booster vaccines. The first is to prevent infection due to the Covid-19 virus. The second is to maintain immunity. The third is to increase the body’s immunity from Corona, and finally to extend the protection period from the virus.
It has been proven that there are many benefits of booster vaccines. Immunity must be maintained during a pandemic, because people don’t want to get Corona. Immunity can indeed be obtained from food and drink intake, but will be further enhanced by booster vaccines.
In addition to the booster vaccine, the public must comply with the 10M health protocol. Don’t forget to wear a mask, wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer, keep your distance, reduce mobility, and obey other points in the process. Everything was done so as not to get Corona and prevent a spike in Covid-19 cases in Indonesia.
The spike in Corona cases is very dangerous because it can prolong the pandemic period, reduce people’s productivity, and affect the Indonesian economy. When Corona is still around, the economy can be weak because purchasing power decreases. Therefore, immediately booster vaccines so that people can get out of the pandemic period and accelerate the transition from pandemic to endemic.
)* The author is a contributor to the Pertiwi Institute