Jakarta (ANTARA) - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated that the government is devising a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose or second booster administration for healthworkers and the decision to be announced soon.
"We have studied the second booster vaccination (fourth dose vaccination) for health workers because some of our health workers are infected (with COVID-19)," he said after the launch event of the SatuSehat platform at Raffles Hotel here on Tuesday.
According to the minister, the discussion regarding the implementation of the fourth vaccination dose for health workers has entered its final phase.
"Hopefully, we would be able to inform the community soon," he remarked.
He affirmed that if President Joko Widodo approved the plan, then the Ministry of Health would immediately conduct the fourth dose of vaccination for health workers.
The minister emphasized the importance of the booster vaccine to strengthen immunity against COVID-19 infection.
Sadikin explained that when infected with COVID-19, people, who have not received at least the first vaccine dose, are 30 folds more likely to be hospitalized as compared to those, who have received the booster dose.
"People, who have only been vaccinated once are about 20 times more likely to be hospitalized. People, who have only been vaccinated twice are 10 times more likely to be hospitalized as compared to those, who have received the booster dose," he remarked.
On a separate occasion, epidemiologist from Griffith University Dicky Budiman stated that the provision of a fourth vaccine dose for at-risk groups is the right step.
"High-risk groups include people with comorbidities or elderly and even some people with disabilities," he stated.
Sadikin assessed that the fourth vaccine dose is essential to protect workers coming in direct contact with the community, especially patients, such as doctors, nurses, and other workers, including ambulance drivers.
According to the minister, teachers and officers at the country's entry points, such as airports and ports, are also included in the at-risk groups.
Lastly, the vaccine dose is also essential to be given to marginalized communities, Budiman added.
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