Pandemic Deemed Far from Over Despite Arrival of Vaccines, Expert Says
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7 January 2021 08:14 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - An epidemiologist from Griffith University Dicky Budiman on Wednesday said that the public’s journey to withstand the pandemic is still far from over despite the arrival of Covid-19 vaccines, as reaching the point where herd immunity is achieved needs time.
“One year would not suffice to reach herd immunity, moreover half a year,” he told Tempo, Wednesday, on January 6.
The epidemiologist highlighted the unavailability of the vaccine’s efficacy which is essential to note how much the drop in the number of cases prior to a nationwide vaccination. Until that data is available, he argued the vaccine’s effectiveness remains unknown in breaking the chain of Covid-19 infections.
“This is the reason why vaccination cannot be the mainstay,” Dicky Budiman said.
He iterated that the nationwide vaccination must go hand-in-hand with the strict and effective implementation of Covid-19 tracing, testing, treatment, and health protocols, as well as ensuring restricted public mobility.
The Food and Drugs Monitoring Agency (BPOM) announced that the Sinovac vaccines could not be given to recipients before the emergency use authorization is issued.
Read: Expert: Vaccine Alone Will Not End Pandemic
LANI DIANA WIJAYA