Jakarta (ANTARA) - Professor of Pulmonology from the University of Indonesia (UI) Tjandra Yoga Aditama suggested that the COVID-19 vaccine should still be provided for free, even after the pandemic ends, for the next few years.
"This is a disease, which is an extraordinary pandemic. Thus, it will be good if the state protects its citizens against the disease, even though later, it is no longer a pandemic," Aditama noted via a text message received here on Saturday.
Aditama, who is the former director of infectious diseases at the World Health Organization (WHO) Southeast Asia, noted that the government could re-evaluate the provision of COVID-19 vaccine for the community.
The Ministry of Health stated that it is still discussing the plan for paid COVID-19 vaccine and ensured that the administration of a second booster dose to the public is still free of charge.
The government started the second booster COVID-19 vaccination for the general public aged 18 years and above on January 24, 2023. The government encouraged people to get the second booster as part of the efforts to step up vigilance against the emergence of the XBB 1.5 subvariant.
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Aditama drew attention to the lingering ambiguity over several aspects related to COVID-19 vaccines, such as vaccination repetition, which remains undecided as to whether the time interval will remain the same or change following the variants in future.
"If it has to be repeated, we still do not know for how long, for how many years, or (whether it will be repeated) for life," he pointed out.
Apart from COVID-19 vaccines, he also suggested the government to cover the treatment cost for those suffering from long COVID.
Aditama stated that in general, two issues associated with long COVID are post-COVID-19 symptoms and an increase in the risk of cardiovascular diseases and metabolic diseases after being infected with COVID-19.
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