Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Ministry of Health has urged people to immediately complete their COVID-19 vaccination as an anticipatory measure against a spike in COVID-19 cases during the 2023 Christmas and 2024 New Year holidays.”People are appealed to immediately complete the COVID-19 vaccine doses, visit the nearest health facilities in community health centers or port health offices without delay,” the ministry’s Disease Prevention and Control Director General Maxi Rein Rondonuwu said in a statement from the ministry here Saturday (December 16). The guidance on completing the COVID-19 vaccination is contained in the Circular Letter of the Director General of Disease Prevention and Control Number IM.02.04/C/4864/2023, dated December 15, 2023. Rondonuwu said the current situation of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia shows an increasing trend since the October 8-14 period. Data as of Friday (December 15) shows 336 confirmed cases of COVID-19, an increase compared to previous days. To this end, he noted that everyone must take preventive measures against virus transmission, one of which is vaccination. “For the community, especially older adults and adults who have comorbidities as well as immunocompromised patients who have received COVID-19 vaccination at least 6-12 months ago, they can be given one dose of COVID-19 vaccine,” he remarked. He explained that COVID-19 vaccination status could be recorded in the government’s Pcare vaccination platform, the Sehat IndonesiaKu application, hospital and community health center management system information platforms, as well as other systems integrated with the ministry’s SATUSEHAT application. Meanwhile, people can download their vaccination certificates that are available in the SATUSEHAT Mobile application. In addition to vaccination, Rondonuwu encouraged people to wear masks when they are sick or in public spaces with risks of COVID-19 transmission. People are also urged to practice proper hand hygiene for maximum protection against COVID-19 transmission. “Immediately get yourself checked if you are sick and have symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, cough, runny nose, shortness of breath, and if the COVID-19 test is positive, take time to isolate,” he said.

Source: Antara News Agency