The Ministry of Health states that the health facilities comprise more than 10,000 community health centers (Puskesmas), around 3,000 hospitals, and more than 1,000 health service posts.
Siti Nadia Tarmizi of the Health Ministry confirmed that so far all mpox cases in Indonesia were found in men.
The Indonesian government lifted all of the Covid-19 restrictions on December 30th, 2022, as the country is inching toward an endemic phase.
TheIndonesia.id - The Indonesian government starts rolling out the second booster shots for healthcare workers across the country as confirmed cases continue to rise in the last two months.
Director general of disease prevention and control at the Ministry of Health Maxi Rein Rondonuwu confirmed on Thursday, July 28, that as health workers are among the vulnerable groups, they are prioritized to receive the second booster doses.
“We issue a circular today to all health offices and hospitals on the rollout of second boosters for healthcare workers,” Rondonuwu said, as reported by Antara.
The decision, he said, was also based on recommendation issued by the Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI), and the rollout kicked off on Friday.
The Ministry will use vaccines that have obtained emergency use authorization (EUA) from the Indonesian Food and Drug Administration (BPOM), and the vaccination will be held in health facilities and vaccination centers.
Ahead of the plan’s implementation, ITAGI chairperson Sri Rezeki warned the Ministry of Health on the availability of vaccines to accelerate the rollout of primary and booster doses for all Indonesians.
“We once destroyed [expired] vaccines, and it shouldn’t happen again. We should find prioritized groups [to get them],” Rezeki said.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) welcomed the decision, especially since the efficacy of COVID decreases after six months.
“IDI welcomes the second COVID-19 boosters for health workers. Vaccines have been proven to save many lives, reduce pressure on health facilities, and allow general public to learn to live with the virus,” chairperson of IDI’s central executive board Adib Khumaidi said in a statement on Friday.
