Govt Asked to Review Vaccine Booster Rollout Next Year

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Independent data initiative LaporCovid-19 suggested the government review the plan to give Covid-19 vaccine booster in early January 2022. It instead asked the government to complete the first and second dose of Covid-19 vaccination nationwide.

"Probably, [the government] must reconsider the plan to give booster vaccination, as the vaccine distribution and vaccination for vulnerable groups must be prioritized," said advocation coordinator of LaporCovid-19, Firdaus Ferdiansyah, to Tempo on Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021.

According to Firdaus, if the plan to give vaccine booster continues, there is the potential of creating new problems, especially regarding supply. "The limited vaccine supply is potential to neglect the equal vaccine distribution and equality of full-dose vaccination, as well as marginalize vulnerable groups from getting vaccine priority," he said.

The government previously stated that the booster vaccination is deemed important to be given to the public to anticipate the third Covid-19 wave.

Health Deputy Minister, Dante Saksono Harbuwono, said that the booster vaccination rollout will be started on January 1. It will be done gradually and targets vulnerable groups based on risk-level.

"We prioritize the senior citizens and those with comorbidity to get the vaccine booster," said Dante in Boyolali, Central Java Friday, Dec. 10.

DEWI NURITA