TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin appealed to the public not to request or administer the third dose of COVID-19 vaccine or a booster shot because many Indonesians had yet to receive their first jab to date.

“Please spread this message to all elements, there are still many Indonesians who have not been vaccinated,” said Budi in an online press conference on Monday, August 2, 2021.

Budi acknowledged that many people wished to have a vaccine booster. However, about 140 million people have not received their first dose. He added that only around 68-70 million people have been inoculated.

Additionally, the third dose is only for health workers. It was planned that they will receive the Moderna vaccine from the United States. Indonesia has thus far received four million doses of Moderna.

“So please, once again, the booster is only given to health workers because they are at high risks for helping us. But the rest of the doses will be given to 140 million people who have not been vaccinated,” Budi remarked.

The Health Minister claimed Indonesia has a sufficient supply of COVID-19 vaccines. Last week, the ministry delivered 13 million doses of vaccines to all regions. This August, the country will again receive more than 70 million doses.

Read: Vaccine Boosters for Health Workers, Not Influencers

EGI ADYATAMA