Second Booster Vaccine

The second Covid-19 booster vaccination rollout for people aged 18 years and older begins on Tuesday (24/1/2023). The people must get healthier and stronger.

KOMPAS/IWAN SETIYAWAN (SET)

An elderly man received a second booster Covid-19 vaccine injection during a booster vaccination for retired Kompas Gramedia and senior citizens at Bentara Budaya Jakarta, in Jakarta, Wednesday (14/12/2022).

Previously, the government administered second booster doses for health workers and those over 60 years old.

Several studies have shown that the Covid-19 vaccine reduces the severity and mortality of the disease as well as the long-term impacts known as long Covid. The World Health Organization deems long Covid as a post-covid symptom. These are symptoms that still persist even if someone infected with Covid-19 has recovered.

Research in the United Kingdom showed that 70 percent of 1,000 patients in hospitals on average fully recover after five months of leaving the hospital. In Indonesia, 63.5 percent of Covid-19 survivors also experience long-term symptoms of Covid in various forms within 4-5 weeks to a few months.

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According to research from the University of Indonesia’s Faculty of Medicine and Persahabatan Hospital, Jakarta (March 2021), there are three main symptoms of long Covid: fatigue, coughing and muscle aches. Meanwhile, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States has a longer list. Symptoms include headaches, shortness of breath, diarrhea, insomnia and mood swings. These symptoms disrupt the quality of life of a person and their family.

In these conditions, though primary vaccinations are important, booster doses are needed too. Booster shots aim to strengthen the body’s immune response. The body believes that the pathogen is infecting it again and immediately produces antibodies to combat it. The increased number of antibodies will make it easier for the body to anticipate the SARS-CoV-2 variant and all its mutations.

ZULIAN FATHA NURIZAL

An elderly man received a booster vaccine for Covid-19 on Thursday (15/12/2022) at the Pancoran Health Center, South Jakarta.

Booster shots have become more important after President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo lifted public activity restrictions (PPKM) on 30 December, 2022. After almost a month without the PPKM, we have seen people’s enthusiasm in coming out of confinement. Shopping malls are packed with visitors, streets are seeing traffic congestion again and public transportation is full of passengers.

On one hand, this is encouraging for a quicker economic recovery. On the other hand, the high risk of infection still looms. It should be reminded that the virus is still around and attacks when the body is weak.

Wearing a mask, maintaining distance and cleanliness need to become new habits.

Thus, the second booster dose needs to be welcomed. Socialization is once again important regarding its availability and accessibility. It is also necessary to provide opportunities for people to receive the first, second and third shot. The important thing is that vaccination coverage can be increased so that there is greater herd immunity.

What is no less important is not to abandon the practices we developed during the PPKM. Wearing a mask, maintaining distance and cleanliness need to become new habits. Hopefully, in this way, we can keep Covid-19 under control.

This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia.