Govt Waits for Scientific Studies for 3rd Covid-19 Vaccine Dose
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30 June 2021 23:21 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Health Ministry, on Wednesday, confirmed it will not yet permit a third Covid-19 vaccine dose for healthcare workers and medics before valid studies and clinical trials are available.
Previously, the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) urged the government to administer the third Covid shot or booster. They believe it would help reduce the deaths among healthcare workers - who received their vaccine shots in January-February this year.
“We need to see if there are scientific publications from clinical trials about it,” said Health Ministry spokesperson Siti Nadia Tarmizi on June 30.
How long the antibody created by the vaccine lasts inside a human system is the main argument behind IDI’s plea. In addition, the healthcare workers were given their first and second dose of Sinovac vaccines - with a 65.3 percent efficacy - earlier in the year.
The Health Ministry spokesperson said a team from the Padjadjaran University is currently tasked to test the longevity of the Sinovac vaccine’s antibody. Tarmizi also said that the World Health Organization (WHO) has not recommended it and she would consider the idea after a thorough scientific study is done to ensure the safety of a third vaccine dose.
Read: Unpad's Sinovac Researchers Say Sinovac May Require 3rd Shot as Booster
EGI ADYATAMA
