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DENPASAR, BALIPOST.com – The COVID-19 vaccine is currently in the stage III clinical trial. The government also continues to conduct socialization related to the existence of vaccines and who will be prioritized for getting the vaccine. This was revealed in the virtual socialization of “Vaccines for the Country” held by the Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery (KPCPEN), Saturday (31/10), monitored from Denpasar.
According to the Head of KPCPEN Public Communication, Rosarita Niken Widiastuti, cooperation and synergy from all elements is needed in order for this vaccination to be successful. This is because there are still a small number of people who do not believe in the importance of vaccination. “This is the biggest challenge in efforts to prevent people from contracting dangerous diseases,” he said.
Regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, Chairman of the Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI), Prof. Dr. Sri Rezeki S. Hadinegoro, explained the importance of vaccination in reducing the spread of COVID-19. He explained that through immunization, the chain of disease transmission can be broken.
The condition is that the vaccinated coverage reaches 80 percent of the population. To stop the spread of COVID-19, he revealed that at least around 60-70 percent of the community must be immunized.
He said stopping the spread of COVID-19 could be done in two ways, namely immunization and disciplined health protocols (prokes) maintaining distance, washing hands, and using masks. However, he considered that Indonesia needs to use vaccines because of the relatively low level of discipline in the community.
If there is no vaccine, he continued, community immunity will be built up but it will take a long time. It must also be taken into account that the infected community has comorbids and the number of casualties before the community immunity is formed.
This professor at the University of Indonesia said that different conditions occurred in a number of countries, such as Thailand and Taiwan, where daily cases decreased quite rapidly. “Because people in Thailand and Taiwan have strong discipline,” he said.
He emphasized that even if there is a vaccine, people are still required to undergo the 3M process with discipline. This is because vaccines are not a cure for this disease but an effort to reduce morbidity and mortality from this virus, accelerate the achievement of herd immunity, and minimize the social and economic impact of this pandemic.
Regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, Senior Journalist and COVID-19 Survivor, Latief Siregar, asked the government to provide bright information to journalists so that they can provide correct information to the public. He admitted that the existence of this vaccine provided hope for ending the spread of COVID-19.
As a survivor, he also said the importance of undergoing the process with discipline. “As a covid-19 survivor, the optimism is that a vaccine can ward off this disease. But by not leaving a habit in the 3M health program, “he said. (Diah Dewi / balipost)
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