This concern raises skepticism and speculation over the effectiveness of the vaccination and when the pandemic will end. According to the Clinical Pathology Specialist Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta Hospital, dr. Tonang Dwi Ardyanto, Sp.PK(K), Ph.D., FISQua, vaccines are still beneficial in preventing Covid-19 infection. Although the possibility of infection in people with full vaccination is never zero, vaccination is proved to reduce the severity and death rate.

“In the clinical test, the target was to prevent symptoms. It was not tested whether it could prevent infection. After one year or more, there will be data to be analyzed,” dr. Tonang wrote on Sunday (6/2/2022).

dr. Tonang, who often shared information around Covid-19 through social media, created a simple simulation on the percentage of infection on vaccinated and unvaccinated people. The uns.ac.id received a permit to upload this simulation that dr. Tonang separated into three parts.

Covid-19 Vaccination in Indonesia

The Indonesian government keeps boosting the vaccination process using the existing vaccines amid the spread of the Omicron variant. President Joko Widodo also issued the booster vaccination policy on 12 January 2022 for 18 years old and older who have received full vaccination at least in the last six months.

The data from 1 January to 4 February 2022 recorded cumulative new cases of 183,974. dr. Tonang simulated that the real number of new cases is around ten times the recorded cases, therefore reaching a total cumulative case of 1,839,740. The number of people receiving full vaccination (48% or 130,462,639 people) and those who received the first shot (68% or 186,205,028 people) was included in the simulation. Breakthrough Infection or B-Infection rate is used to reflect the infection that occurred in vaccinated people.

“The first simulation is all new cases are in vaccinated people with at least first shot; then the B-infection rate is 0.99 percent,” dr. Tonang explained.

In the second simulation, if the new cases are proportional, 68%, or 13 out of 18 infections occurred in vaccinated people and 32%, or 5 out of 18 cases occurred in unvaccinated people. The B-Infection rate for the second simulation is 0.68%. “The third simulation, if the cases are equally distributed, each nine of 18 cases in vaccinated and unvaccinated people, then the B-Infection rate is 0.49%,” he explained. In contrast, the report from other countries identified more cases in unvaccinated groups. “If that also occurs in Indonesia, then the B-Infection rate will be even lower,” he added.

Through the three simulations, in the most pessimistic condition, around 99% of vaccinated people could avoid Covid-19 infection. Therefore, reducing all negative impacts of Covid-19 infection and the spread of the new Coronavirus disease. “Thus, it meets the objective of vaccination, to protect oneself and others,” dr. Tonang stated.

From the first simulation, dr. Tonang stated that the B-Infection rate is normal and appropriate to be concluded that vaccination has a good ability in preventing Covid-19 infection. Even if the real cases are 30 times larger than the recorded cases, the B-infection rate will still stand around 2.96%. It is true that there is a concern over the representativeness of the national reports because there is a gap in testing capacity all over Indonesia regions. For example, a simulation on data from Jakarta will generate a B-Infection rate of 10.01% in the first simulation alone.

“If 90% or higher is considered insignificant, that would be incorrect. There are many factors that complement one another, especially implementing health protocols and vaccinations. But there are times when we did the protocols less strict. That is when vaccination takes a role in the long-term,” dr. Tonang explained.

dr. Tonang stated that we need to be grateful if the vaccinated people are prevented from new infections. For the small number of people who got infected after vaccination, he reminded them to continue to be aware even after receiving vaccines.

“The requirement stays the same, strict protocols, accelerate vaccination until we are sure that we could control the pandemic,” he concluded. Humas UNS

Reporter: Y.C.A. Sanjaya
Editor: Dwi Hastuti

The post Simple Simulation from UNS Hospital Physician on Vaccine’s Ability in Preventing Covid-19 Infection appeared first on Universitas Sebelas Maret.

In his opening remark, the Rector of UNS, Prof. Dr. Jamal Wiwoho, stated that since March 2020, Covid-19 had affected various aspects of life in Indonesia, including educational activities that were shifted into online teaching and learning due to the pandemic. Considering the high level of infection at national and international levels, vaccination becomes one of the efforts proposed to prevent the spread of new coronavirus infections. Prof. Jamal emphasized that he highly appreciates the efforts taken by research centers in LPPM, especially Pusdemtanas, that continue to conduct research and community services.

“Including this Seminar on Research Result of Legal Standard for Vaccination Process,” Prof. Jamal stated.

Dr. Sunny Ummul Firdaus, in her opening remark, added that the pandemic had reached a new stage in which prevention does not rely on external efforts but is extended to the efforts in increasing public immunity through the vaccination process. “The vaccination process for Covid-19 in Indonesia is regulated in several regulations. The regulations are Health Minister Decree No. 19 of 2021 regarding the Implementation of Vaccination as a Countermeasure of Covid-19 Pandemic, Circular Letter on Covid-19 Vaccination Acceleration for the Head of Provincial and District/City Health Offices in Circular Letter Number HK.02/I/1727/2021 regarding Stage 3 Vaccination for Vulnerable and General Community and 12-17 years old,” Dr. Sunny explained.

However, Dr. Sunny added that the way towards Indonesia’s independence of vaccine production faces diverse challenges from the upstream to downstream implementation. These challenges are on the legal basis for research in vaccines development in Indonesia that is lacking, not integrated, less responsive, and limiting researchers. There is also a rejection of vaccines by the community, legal rights to determine their choices, and distribution challenges caused by infrastructures, which need to be considered by the government in planning public policies in Indonesia. These issues, according to Dr. Sunny, are related to the absence of a legal basis for the vaccination process and could be solved by developing appropriate legal constructions.

Dr. Sunny also emphasized the importance of vaccine independence in increasing the nation’s resilience against non-military threats. “The government needs to map the stages of policymaking process including through roadmaps for Legal Standard for Vaccination Process. Thus, the policies taken during the process will be measurable, effective, and efficient,” Dr. Sunny concluded. Humas UNS

Reporter: Dwi Hastuti

The post Pusdemtanas UNS Held Seminar on Legal Standard for Vaccination Process appeared first on Universitas Sebelas Maret.