Health Ministry Denies Issue that Sinovac Recipient More Vulnerable to Covid-19

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Health Ministry Spokesperson Siti Nadia Tarmizi denied issues saying that Sinovac vaccine recipients are more vulnerable to coronavirus disease than other Covid-19 vaccine recipients. She however acknowledged that many medical workers were tested positive for the disease recently.

Most health workers received Sinovac in the first stage of the national mass vaccination. “There is no official data [that Sinovac recipients are more prone to virus exposure]. What we know, many health workers are infected with [the virus],” said Nadia today, June 28.

Nadia underlined that it does not necessarily mean that the China-made vaccine is more vulnerable to the virus. In fact, they are at a high risk of virus exposure for constantly meeting and treating Covid-19 patients, let alone amid the current surge in cases.

Additionally, the mutated coronavirus or Delta variant has already entered the country. The variant is reportedly more infectious than the Alpha variant. “At the time of case surge, there must also be a fatigue factor, which reduces the immunity of health workers,” she said.

Nadia could not confirm that other Covid-19 vaccines are more effective in preventing the virus, especially new mutations. AstraZeneca vaccine is said to be more effective in forming antibodies against the Delta variant.

“It is possible [that AstraZeneca is more effective]. But in principle, there are 3 factors of getting a disease, namely the host, the environment, and the number of viruses,” Nadia explained.

Read: Unpad's Sinovac Researchers Say Sinovac May Require 3rd Shot as Booster

EGI ADYATAMA