Jakarta, The Indonesia Post – The COVID-19 Handling Task Force said that the recipients of the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine had reached 171,064,873 after an increase of 4,162 people as of 12.00 WIB.
In data from the Task Force received by ANTARA in Jakarta, Saturday, the increase also occurred in the coverage of the first dose, which has now increased to 7,632 people. So that the total nationally reached 203,397,204 people.
Then the recipient of the third dose has reached 60,912,034 people, after adding 12,664 people.
Meanwhile, the fourth dose, which is currently only being prioritized for health workers, has reached 380,726 people. An increase of 3,036 from the previous day.
The government itself is now targeting 234,666,020 as targets for the spread of the COVID-19 vaccine in Indonesia.
Previously, Professor of the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia (FKUI) Prof Amin Soebandrio stated that mutations had caused the new variants of COVID-19 to weaken.
“The mutation actually makes the virus look weak. Only four to five percent of the mutations can make the virus more fit or adaptable,” Amin said.
He said if the mutation of the virus can occur randomly. In the process, the virus will replicate itself when it finds a new person (host) to transmit, but there is a possibility if there is an error in copying its genetic material.
As a result, only four to five percent of the mutated viruses can adapt to environmental stresses, either due to drugs or antibodies.
It is this opportunity that Indonesia must then face. This condition cannot be underestimated because it causes the risk of transmission to occur to any party.
He emphasized that the vaccine that has been obtained by the community, regardless of the number of doses, can be very useful and form immunity in the community. Vaccination provides protection from viruses that are constantly mutating and changing.
Several large vaccine companies are also trying to adapt their vaccines to new variants. He hopes that vaccination coverage can continue to be increased without any inequality in each group in society.
“Speaking of mutations as long as we can prevent the virus from finding a new host (through vaccination), then it will minimize the possibility of the virus mutating, that’s what we have to do,” said Amin Soebandrio. (mhn/bbs)
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