Health Ministry: COVID-19 Vaccination Effective at Preventing Coronavirus Variants
COVID-19 Vaccine (09/03). [Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Oji]
“So far there have been neither researches nor scientific evidence that show the COVID-19 vaccines around the globe that have been produced and injected could not protect us from this new variant of coronavirus,” Nadia said, Tuesday (09/03).
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nadia added, this new variant of COVID-19, known as the British variant or B117, is spread rapidly and is more contagious.
Nonetheless, WHO has not received any scientific evidence whether COVID-19 B117 is more vicious or not.
Related with the emergence of COVID-19 B117 in Indonesia, Nadia pointed out that all four patients that tested positive for this new variant have recovered and are in a good condition without any serious symptoms of the virus.
The four cases of COVID-19 B117 were found in the provinces of North Sumatra, South Sumatra, East Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan and were detected from the results of Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) examination conducted by the Agency of Health Research and Development of Health Ministry (Litbangkes Kemenkes) with 16 other health laboratories in Indonesia.
In total, there were six positive cases of COVID-19 B117 with two positives cases reported on Monday (01/03) from foreign travelers.
Nadia also urged the public to remain disciplined in observing health protocols by wearing a face mask, maintaining physical distancing, washing hands, reducing mobility if not necessary, and avoiding crowds. (HUMAS KEMENKES/UN) (AP/EP)
