People Must Get Booster Shot Before Doing 'Mudik': Task Force

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, Wiku Adisasmito, has appealed to people to get the COVID-19 booster vaccine before participating in the Eid homecoming mass exodus.

"The government continues to appeal to people to get vaccinated far before the departure," he said at a press conference regarding Indonesia's COVID-19 handling development, accessed from on Tuesday.

Even though the results of a serosurvey announced by the Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, on Monday have shown that the antibody levels of Indonesian citizens have reached 99.2 percent, by getting the booster dose, it is hoped that the community's antibody levels can be improved in the midst of homecoming activities, he added.

In addition, by getting the booster dose before the exodus, people can help the government to prevent long queues at vaccination posts, which will be set up at a number of strategic locations during the exodus period.

He said that the expansion of COVID-19 vaccinations must continue despite the controlled pandemic situation and the high level of antibodies in people.

He further said that vaccine certificates will still need to be shown through the PeduliLindungi application as official proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

Travel requirements such as vaccinations and COVID-19 test results will also be checked at departure points and at several points during the trip. For that reason, citizens will need to download the PeduliLindungi application and fill in the domestic eHAC in the application.

This year, taking note of the improvement in the COVID-19 situation, the Indonesian government has allowed people to travel to their hometowns to celebrate Eid.

The trips will be allowed as long as prospective homecomers complete their primary and booster vaccinations. Those who have not received the booster dose will need to show a negative COVID-19 test result.

The Transportation Ministry has estimated that 85.5 million citizens, or 31.6 percent of the total population, will take part in the Eid homecoming mass exodus.

Read: Booster Vaccination in Greater Jakarta Targeted to Reach 50% on D-7 of Eid

ANTARA