Starting May 5, Jakarta Uses Astra Zeneca for First Dose of Mass Vaccination

Jakarta Health Agency (Dinkes) has started using the Astra Zeneca vaccine for residents who are about to be vaccinated or get their first dose. Previously, the Astra Zeneca vaccine had also been used in the last few weeks for the army and police in Jakarta.

Astra Zeneca vaccine for the first dose. This is given in 2 doses at 12 week intervals

Dinkes Head Widyastuti stated Jakarta would receive as much as 1.5 million doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccine from the Ministry of Health. Thus far her agency had received 500,000 doses.

"Starting May 5, all government-funded vaccination services such as Puskesmas, hospitals, clinics, vaccine centers and outside Puskesmas building at health facilities in Jakarta will use the Astra Zeneca vaccine for the first dose. This is given in 2 doses at 12 week intervals," she expressed, as quoted by Jakarta PPID's press release, on Wednesday (5/5).

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The target for Astra Zeneca vaccines was still the same according to the stages, namely for the elderly, public servants, and residents aged 18 years old and over who were in densely populated RWs in accordance with the Gubernatorial Regulation number 90/2018 on Improving the Quality of Settlements in the Framework of Arrangement of Integrated Settlement Areas, areas that have the potential to occur COVID-19 cases with Variant of Concern (VOC), and zoning areas most at risk in PPKM Mikro.

She explained that if someone got the Sinovac vaccine in the first dose, they would still receive the same vaccine in the next dose, as the calculation had been done and the vaccine dose had been provided. "This is also given to those who have just received the first dose," she added.

She continued the city was also accelerating the vaccination by reaching 445 densely populated residential areas.

"Currently, the injection capacity for the first dose is up to around 76,000 per day, due to the high number of collaborators working with us and we have also provided training to more than 10,000 vaccinators. We can do it as we have many vaccine centers, some in malls, markets, and su-districts. But, keep in mind, even though you have been vaccinated, you must still apply the 5M," she continued.

Regarding the safety of using the Astra Zeneca vaccine, Dr. Prima Yosephine, MKM, Acting Director for Health Surveillance and Quarantine, explained that the vaccine already had WHO Emergency Use Listing (EUL), approval for emergency use from BPOM, and MUI. As for the effectiveness of the vaccine up to 77.2 percent after giving two doses.

"Indonesia is one of the 92 eligible countries to receive vaccine support from the Covax Facility, amounting to 20 percent of the total population. In the first quarter of 2021, the country will receive assistance of 11.7 million doses of Astra Zeneca vaccine. In Indonesia, as many as 1 million doses of Astra Zeneca have been used," he explained.

He also said, there was no difference in the health screening process during the implementation of vaccination, either Sinovac or Astra Zeneca vaccines. ". "We will give medicine if needed, which the following day the body's condition after being vaccinated by Astra Zeneca usually returns to normal. There have been no reports of serious side effects. Besides, there are contacts given to residents to complain if there are side effects. So, no need to worry, as it is relatively mild for its effect," he expressed.

Related with the Post-Immunization Follow-up (KIPI) incident on the Astra Zeneca vaccine, Komnas KIPI Chairperson, Prof. Dr. Hindra Irawan Satari, SpA (K), M. TropPaed, explained, from clinical trial reports for phases 1, 2, and 3, there were effects such as headaches, pain alone, fever to chills, weakness, and nausea. Yet these symptoms decrease further and disappear with age. "Younger people are more prone to the symptoms, except the older. However, the symptoms experienced were classified as mild," he asserted.

Until now in Indonesia, he explained, there had not been any reports of blood clots like in Europe. The frequency of occurrence was also very rare. "We hope there is no such report in Indonesia," he explained.

"The two types of vaccines given in Indonesia are good. Until now, its protective power is still safe and usable, as research is still being done. If there are complaints, immediately contact the contact number listed on the vaccination card," he concluded.