The Omicron cases spike in Indonesia attracted public attention immediately since the cases increased after 110,620,807 Indonesian citizens received their 2nd dose of Covid-19 vaccination. Additionally, public concerns about Omicron began to emerge because news circulated that the Covid-19 vaccines, which are currently available, were not effective against Omicron. So, is it true?

A Clinical Pathology Specialist in Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Hospital, Surakarta, dr. Tonang Dwi Ardyanto, Sp.PK(K), Ph.D., FISQua ., states that the current Covid-19 vaccine only focuses on severe symptoms and death. If we wish to get a Covid-19 vaccine that can prevent infection in the upper respiratory tract, of course, it will take longer. “In countries facing Omicron, for example, the UK, vaccination coverage is already high. When Omicron spread, numerically, it was greater than the number of vaccinated groups. However, if it is proportional or in percentage, it (the Omicron case) is more than the group that has not been vaccinated,” explained dr. Tonang, Monday (12/27/2021).

Considering the rapid increase in Omicron cases in the UK, he explained that the risk of a Covid-19 vaccinated person being hospitalized when infected with Omicron is only 31-45 percent. Meanwhile, for those who have not received their Covid-19 vaccine shots, the risk of undergoing hospitalization in an isolation room when infected with Omicron increases to 50-70 percent.

dr. Tonang added that the Omicron hospitalization percentage for a vaccinated person was lower compared to the Delta variant, which spread in the middle of this year. “Meanwhile, for those recovering from Covid-19 infection but yet to get vaccinated, the risk is 11 percent compared to the Delta variant. This means that it is 4-7 times higher than the vaccinated group against Covid-19,” added dr. Tonang.

If you look at the Covid-19 vaccination coverage in Indonesia, the percentage of complete vaccine injections had reached 40.65 percent. Around 17 percent of the people have just received the first dosage, while around 42.3 percent have not received any dosage of Covid-19 vaccine. Based on this data, dr. Tonang is worried that the un-vaccinated groups against Covid-19 will be more prone to contracting Omicron.

“One point to remember is that the person who gets infected faster is the one with the laxest health protocol, those who do not wear a mask and do not wash their hands regularly. For those who have antibodies, the virus will clear faster. However, those who have yet to develop the antibodies against Covid-19 will need 14 days for the virus to disappear after the initial infection,” said dr. Tonang.

Do we need to use a booster?

Because the currently available Covid-19 vaccines are still not able to prevent people from the new SARS-CoV-2 variant, there has been discoursed for a booster shot(s). On a side note, the booster is different from the third dose, which many people have misinterpreted. Booster is an additional vaccine to ensure that the two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine that have been injected have formed immunity. Meanwhile, the third dose is a vaccine that must be injected and is the central part of the Covid-19 vaccine, like the first and second doses.

Furthermore, dr. Tonang said that the necessity of injecting a booster needs further investigation, considering that the report is still based on laboratory research. “We called it in vitro. Nothing wrong; however, a careful interpretation in the field is needed. The reports (on booster shots) are from countries with 70-80 percent vaccination rate, but in Indonesia, it is only around 40 percent,” added dr. Tonang.

He said, even though someone is at risk of contracting Omicron, it does not mean the effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccine is lost. dr. Tonang dismissed this assumption and emphasized that the effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccine was only decreasing. Instead of focusing on discussing the need for boosters, dr. Tonang asked the government to immediately intensify the injection of the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. “This is more important, more meaningful, and has a stronger communal effect against whatever Covid-19 variants that still exist and may exist,” he added.

When can a booster be given?

dr. Tonang explained that the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Indonesian Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) agreed that booster injections could be carried out when 50 percent of the population had been vaccinated against Covid-19. “Using an assumption that the proportion of survivors who have not been vaccinated is around 20 percent, most of the survivors have been vaccinated, then with 50 percent vaccination rate along with the 20 percent vaccinated survivor, vaccination rate can reach around 70 percent,” said dr. Tonang.

After reaching this percentage, he said the Ministry of Health could consider delivering a booster, given that the primary Covid-19 vaccination must still be carried out and boosters are addressed for high-risk groups.

“With the average speed of administering vaccines in the last seven days, we can reach 50 percent vaccination rate in about 30-50 days,” he concluded. Humas UNS

Reporter: YCS Sanjaya
Editor: Dwi Hastuti

The post UNS Hospital Clinical Pathology Specialist Answers Doubts about Vaccine Effectiveness Against Omicron appeared first on Universitas Sebelas Maret.

The KKN group from the Faculty of Medical Science (FK) UNS created an educational video on the testimonies from people after receiving vaccines with FK UNS and TNI AD. The video was uploaded to @vaksinasifkuns official Instagram account and has been viewed more than 2,800 times until this release.

Supervised by Sigit Setyawan, dr., M.Sc., the group members that consist of Dhea Fitria Rachma, Enrico Ananda Budiono, Farah Fatimah Azzahra, Inas Nuha Mumtaza, Meutia Nurrahma, Octaviana Rizka Fadila, Rendy Bayu Pratama, Tabita Desna Shadiar Hawa, Yanuareza Totti Adyanata, and Yohanna Handika Putri K. D, stated that the Group interviewed more than 30 participants who received two dosages of the vaccine. Representing her team, Yohanna added that most of the interviewees are students, and some are from the local community.

Besides an educational purpose, this interview also serves as a post-vaccination case (KIPI) screening to anticipate serious cases post-vaccination. The interviewees stated that they do not experience serious KIPI so far. “We hope that the community is no longer scared and worried about getting Covid-19 vaccine and help to handle the pandemic,” Yohanna said on Sunday (5/9/2021). She also added that a positive campaign on vaccination is needed not only from institutions or groups but also from the individual. “People who got vaccinated could provide a positive testimonial on their post-vaccination experience. Testimonial can be provided directly to people who had not been vaccinated or online in the social media,” Yohanna added.

Testimonials

Muhammad Mumtaz Hafiyyan Amin (22) from the Faculty of Cultural Studies (FIB) mentioned that Covid-19 vaccination is vital for increasing their immune system. “It is important to increase our immune system from Covid-19 infection. Moreover, there is a new variant in Indonesia; thus, our immune needs a booster,” he said.

Rizky Intan Cahyani (19) supported Muhammad Mumtaz’s statement that she is enthusiastic about participating in the vaccination to reach herd immunity. “From what I read, to reach herd immunity, we need at least 70% of people vaccinated. That’s why I am enthusiastic,” she said.

Harwanda Kusuma (20) and Raihan Kamal Muhammad (19) shared their anxiety before receiving the jab in the interview. Both were worried about issues of the side effects caused by the vaccination, but it turned out they did not feel any significant impact after vaccination and said that vaccines are safe and not dangerous. In the video, the interviewees also shared their appreciation for the vaccination program held by FK UNS and invited more community members to get vaccinated once they received an opportunity. Humas UNS

Reporter: Kaffa Hidayati
Editor: Dwi Hastuti

The post Group C6 KKN FK UNS Held Interview on KIPI Screening and Invitation for Vaccination appeared first on Universitas Sebelas Maret.

The event that was scheduled as an online event was implemented offline under strict health protocols, and all team members passed the swab test as required by the village apparatus. The team has nine members: Reni Dwi Septiani (PG-PAUD),  Puji Astuti (Pharmacy), Hadi Prayitno (Fine Arts), Tasya Santi Rahmawati (Industrial Engineering), Zetira Rezkina Zahra (Architectural Engineering), Ramizah Ariq Sakinah (Special Education), Resti Sukma Nastiti (PPKn), Fadilla Intan Nurlaili (PGSD), and Ali Prakoso (PJKR).

Covid-19 vaccination is the focus of the socialization that shared the information on the importance of vaccination to stop Covid-19 infection, the safety of the vaccines, and vaccines are not a cure but a preventive action to strengthen the immune system. The socialization also emphasized the importance of implementing health protocols. The representative from the group, Reni Dwi Septiani, stated to uns.ac.id that her group hopes that this socialization becomes a means to improve community awareness on the importance of Covid-19 vaccination and the danger of the new coronavirus disease.

“Hopefully, this socialization could make people who are denying Covid-19 to be aware. Additionally, by sharing information on the Covid-19 vaccination, it is expected to reduce people’s dread over the vaccine myths that circulate in the community. Therefore, helping to stop the spread of Covid-19,” she stated on Tuesday (24/8/2021)

Reni also mentioned that the local community and government warmly welcomed the program, especially those related to Covid-19. The Village Chief of Sugihan even asked them to conduct other socialization in RT RW meeting and village apparatus meeting on the same topic: health protocols and hoaxes that make people reluctant to get vaccinated. She added that after the socialization, more people are aware of the health protocols and vaccination. “Some people also believe and willing to participate in the vaccination program,” Reni said.

Besides the socialization, the team also has many other programs during their eight days stay in the region. The first program is distributing hand washing basins, handwash, and hand sanitizer in several public places in Sugihan Village, Wonogiri. Secondly, on Covid-19 and environmental cleanliness, the group trained the local community to make and install mask connectors and socializing a healthy and clean lifestyle. Thirdly, the group conducted socialization on designing and exciting packaging for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME). Fourth, they perform socialization on children with special needs and how to communicate with them according to their disabilities.

“In the Indonesian independence day occasion, we also held poem competition on nationalism and developed TPA students’ creativity by creating tie-dye tote bag in Nglasep Hamlet, Sugihan Village,” Reni added. Humas UNS

Reporter: Kaffa Hidayati
Editor: Dwi Hastuti

The post Group 300 KKN UNS Socialize the Importance of Covid-19 Vaccination in Wonogiri appeared first on Universitas Sebelas Maret.