TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - An epidemiologist from Griffith University, Dicky Budiman, warned that Covid-19 vaccines are not the sole answer to a pandemic. Whilst admitting the importance of mass vaccination, he said that in order to be free of the virus and its transmission, vaccinations must come with other strategies.

He said that 3T (tracing, testing and treatment) as well as wearing masks, washing hands regularly, physical distancing, avoiding crowds and reducing mobility—known as 5M in Indonesia—must continue being implemented.

"The vaccines cannot stand on its own. It is also not a magic solution," he said on Wednesday, January 6.

According to Dicky, the percentage of declining cases after the vaccination process began cannot be predicted, as the efficacy rate has not been obtained.

"Never mind Sinovac, Pfizer, or Moderna; even Oxford has no firm data yet about their vaccine's efficacy; how much it can prevent transmission," Dicky said. "That is why we cannot rely completely on vaccination. We must continue with 3T and 5M."

Today, President Joko Widodo emphasized that vaccination will begin next week and asked all provinces to prepare.

Meanwhile, Jakarta deputy governor Ahmad Riza Patria said that vaccination will start in the second week of January. The Jakarta Provincial Government has been allocated 39,200 doses of Covid-19 vaccines.

Read: Health Minister Talks of Side Effects of Covid-19 Vaccine

Lani Diana Wijaya