Super-immunity Behind COVID's Slowing Down in Indonesia: Expert

TheIndonesia.id - Health science expert from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia (FKUI) Prof. Tjandra Yoga Aditama, explained the super-immunity factor which influenced the slowing down of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia.

"In recent days there have been statements about super-immunity as one of the reasons cases in our country and also some other countries can remain sloping," said Tjandra Yoga Aditama in a written statement received in Jakarta, Tuesday, January 4, 2022.

According to Tjandra, survivors or those who recover from COVID-19 will form antibodies called natural immunity. Those who recover and then receive the COVID-19 vaccine will have a better immune system.

"This is what has recently been called 'super-immunity', or another name for 'hybrid immunity'," he said.

A preliminary research report in the international medical journal "Nature" in late 2021 showed that blood serum of survivors with 'super-immunity' had a better ability to neutralize several variants of COVID-19, Tjandra said.

"At least it's better than neutralization in those who get the vaccine but have never been sick before. It turns out that giving a third vaccine or booster will provide the same protection as 'super-immunity' in those who have never been sick before," he said.

The former Director of Infectious Diseases of World Health Organization for Southeast Asia said that 'super-immunity' may have a weakening effect on effectiveness, especially against new variants such as Omicron which is still being researched. Tjandra said the choice of contracting COVID-19 to gain natural immunity or 'super-immunity' was not the right attitude. The reason is, someone who falls ill has a great risk to health and life.

"There is also another phenomenon, the immunity in a person who is vaccinated against COVID-19 but then fell ill with COVID-19, which at least based on the JAMA Journal at the end of 2021, also provides good protection," he said.

For this reason, Tjandra encourages the public to immediately obtain a complete dose of COVID-19 vaccination. As of January 1, 2022, more than 45 percent of Indonesian people have not received complete vaccination and around 57 percent of the elderly have not received adequate vaccinations.

"This figure must be pursued with all of our maximum efforts," he said.