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COVID-19 vaccination for elderly health workers begins Monday
Written by Nur Yasmin
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Feb. 8 - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said vaccination for the elderly health workers will start on Monday (8/2) at 09.00 WIB following the approval of the emergency use of the CoronaVac vaccine by the Food and Drug Administration (BPOM).
"We have improved the technical instructions, have communicated with the ranks in the field so that tomorrow at 09.00 WIB vaccination for the elderly health workers over 60 years old can be started," Budi said in a virtual press conference attended from Jakarta, Sunday.
Budi said Indonesia officially started a vaccination program on January 13, 2021, with a priority on health workers. Health workers take precedence first because they have a higher risk of being exposed to the COVID-19 virus.
The elderly are also a vulnerable group when contracting COVID-19 because they have a higher risk of becoming fatal. That is why in several countries, said Budi, prioritized vaccination for health workers and the elderly.
According to Budi, Indonesian health workers aged over 60 years amount to more than 11,600. They previously could not be vaccinated because the approval of the emergency use of the vaccine from the BPOM was only for the age range 18 years to 59 years.
"Health workers who are over 60 years of age are people who are at risk of being exposed to the coronavirus, as well as at a higher risk of experiencing fatality," he said.
Budi said the approval of the BPOM's emergency use of the CoronaVac vaccine which could be used for the elderly group was good news.
This is an effort to protect groups who are more susceptible to infection and have a higher risk of mortality so that patients with severe symptoms can be reduced.
"If patients with severe symptoms can be reduced, the pressure to the hospital, especially patients with severe conditions, can also be reduced. In the end, the burden of health workers in hospitals can also be reduced because most of the elderly people would not need to go to the hospital," he said. (Antaranews)
