Covid-19 Vaccine Euphoria Deemed Dangerous

AFP/AZWAR IIPANK

This handout photo taken and released on August 11, 2020 by Presidential palace shows President Joko Widodo (C) visiting the Bio Farma Pharmacy that produce vaccines for COVID-19 coronavirus in Bandung, West Java. - Indonesia on August 11, 2020 launched human trials of a Chinese-made coronavirus vaccine with some 1,600 volunteers slated to take part in the six-month study.

People around the country are enthusiastically waiting for the Covid-19 mass vaccination drive. Concerns are rife, however, that such enthusiasm may lead to a decline in public discipline when it comes to following health rules.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Covid-19 vaccination will soon be carried out in regions across Indonesia, but public enthusiasm other the mass vaccination drive must be complemented with mass education, so that people continue to comply with health protocols to get the pandemic under control.

As Kompas observed on Thursday (14/1/2021), mass Covid-19 vaccination has commenced in Bandung, Pontianak, Palangkaraya, Palu, Kendari, Denpasar, Mataram, Kupang, Palembang, Padang, Batam, Medan, Bandar Lampung, Jambi, Jakarta and other places. First receivers of Covid-19 vaccine include public officials, directors of regional hospitals, public figures and religious figures.

Also read: New Hope from the Merdeka Palace

The head of the Indonesian Immunology and Allergy Association, Iris Rengganis, said vaccination could not protect people with 100 percent certainty against contracting an infectious disease, including Covid-19. It also takes time for antibodies, or immunity, to develop after vaccination.

“The development of antibodies may differ from one person to another, depending on the ability of the body to form immunity. So, recipients are not instantaneously protected [against infectious diseases] after vaccination, especially if recipients have only received one shot of a vaccine,” said Iris.

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

A health worker injects a fellow medical worker with a vaccine during a simulation for Covid-19 vaccination at Puskesmas Talun, in Cirebon regency, West Java, on Wednesday (6/1/2021). The first round of vaccinations in Cirebon will target around 8,009 medical workers.

In this regard, the public must thus understand that herd immunity can only be achieved after at least 70 percent of the population in a country is vaccinated. During the pandemic, health protocol still has to be followed, which includes wearing face masks, washing hands regularly, maintaining a distance from others and avoiding smoking.

“The public must be comprehensively educated [on health precautions]. Vaccination is important. The Covid-19 vaccine is also guaranteed to be safe and halal. However, vaccination alone is not enough. What is equally important is to inform the public that vaccines are not the sole answer to put an end to the pandemic. As long as the pandemic lasts, following health protocol remains mandatory,” explained Iris.

Also read: Ensure the Efficacy of COVID-19 Vaccination Drive

After he received his Covid-19 shot at the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM), Jakarta, Deputy Health Minister Dante Saksono Harbuwono said as many as 1.4 million health workers would be prioritized for vaccination in the first stage of the Covid-19 mass vaccination drive in Indonesia.

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

The community health center (Puskesmas) in Cilincing subdistrict, North Jakarta conducts a COVID-19 vaccination simulation on Tuesday (12/1/2021). The simulation includes registration, screening or health examinations, vaccination and post-vaccination observation. The observation lasts 30 minutes to see if there are any side effects after a person receives the vaccine. The government plans to begin the Covid-19 vaccination program on 13 Jan, 2021. President Joko Widodo will be the first person to be injected with the Covid-19 vaccine.

“We want to set an example for the general public that if medical workers are willing to get vaccinated, the general public must be willing as well,” said Dante. The government has set a target to vaccinate 181.5 million people. As many as 31,000 vaccinators have been prepared to carry out the program.

Apology

Celebrity Raffi Ahmad issued an apology after news emerged that he had attended a party with his friends without wearing a face mask hours after he got vaccinated at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta. He acknowledged his mistake and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to be among the first recipients of the Covid-19 vaccine, together with President Joko Widodo.

Also read: Transmission Control Determines Vaccination Success

The Palace has warned Raffi to remain disciplined in following health protocols. “[Raffi] has been advised and reminded by the communication team [of the Covid-19 Task Force] to follow health protocol. We will advise him as well,” said Presidential Secretariat head Heru Budi Hartono.

Meanwhile, the police are investigating allegations of violations of large-scale social restriction. On photos circulating online, Raffi and other attendants of the party appear not to be wearing face masks and failing to maintain a physical distance from one another.

The agency has also prepared 21 referral hospitals to handle post-immunization accidents.

The Jakarta Health Agency has affirmed that 488 health facilities in the capital city are ready to carry out the mass vaccination. The agency has also prepared 21 referral hospitals to handle post-immunization accidents.

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo was the first person in the province who received Covid-19 vaccine. He was vaccinated at Tugurejo Regional General Hospital, Semarang, yesterday. Ganjar warned the public to continue following health protocols even after mass vaccination began.

ARSIP DINKES BANJARMASIN

Covid-19 vaccines produced by Chinese company Sinovac arrive in Banjarmasin city, South Kalimantan, on Tuesday (12/1/2021). In the first phase, the Banjarmasin City Health Office received 13,480 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Budi Prasetyo (31), a resident of West Semarang district, expressed his happiness that vaccination would soon be carried out in Semarang. “I support [the mass vaccination]. After health workers, I hope the general public can get vaccinated,” said Budi.

Similarly, Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengku Buwono X believes that Yogyakarta residents would be willing to get vaccinated.

Also read: Regional Administrations Await Technical Instructions from Central Govt

Meanwhile, the first mass vaccination in Bandung municipality involved a number of regional leaders, public figures and thousands of people who worked in health facilities. Musician Nazril Irham, also known as Ariel, and writer Risa Saraswati took part in the first vaccination in Bandung. Ariel said his participation was his own initiative and to prove that the vaccine was safe for the public. “I dare to come forward to set a concrete example,” said Ariel.

(This article was translated by Astria Z. Nabila).