Gov’t to Give Health Workers COVID-19 Booster Jab

Minister of Health delivers a press statement virtually after a limited meeting on COVID-19 handling, Wednesday (12/7). (Photo by: PR/Agung)

The Indonesian Government has announced it will immediately administer a third booster jab using the vaccine made by US biotech company Moderna to provide better protection for health workers in the country.

“Once we have finalized our discussions with associations of doctors, nurses, and midwives on their third jab using the Moderna vaccine, we will start (the vaccination) as soon as possible to protect our frontline,” Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin said in a press statement virtually after a limited meeting on COVID-19 handling, Wednesday (12/7).

Ministry of Health, Budi said, will continue to monitor the condition of the health workers.

“Certainly, we are aware that some of the nurses and doctors have been infected by the COVID-19 virus and must self-isolate. We are very concerned and will continue to pay attention to the health of these nurses, doctors and midwives,” he said.

On the occasion, the Minister also said that in addition to providing additional beds for COVID-19 handling, the Government needs to also provide additional human resources.

For nurses, he said, the need for around 16,000-20,000 nurses has been identified.

“We have prepared and identified nursing staff who have graduated from school, who have passed the competency test, and are still at the final stage (of their education).

Based on President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s directive, we will talk with Minister of Education on how we can integrate these nurses into practice faster,” he said.

Meanwhile, the need for 3,000 additional doctors will be met from post-internship doctors, he added.

“We also learn that there are around 3,900 doctors who will finish their internships this year, so we have also prepared those who have just graduated from their internships to participate immediately,” he said. (TGH/UN) (FI/MUR)