Jakarta (ANTARA) – Due to virus mutation, Indonesia is not yet fully safe from COVID-19 transmission despite high community immunity, head of the Indonesian Society of Allergy and Immunology (Peralmuni), Iris Rengganis, has said.
“Even though the antibodies have increased, we can still get infected. People should not think that they cannot be infected. They can still be infected because virus mutation has occurred,” she informed at a talk show, which was followed online from here on Monday.
Rengganis noted that mutations cause a virus to continue to live because they are a way for viruses to survive the surrounding environment. In the case of COVID-19, the virus can mutate because it has RNA (ribonucleic acid).
As a result, even though the community’s antibody levels have increased because of COVID-19 vaccinations, virus transmission can still occur anytime and anywhere as long as there is contact among people.
In addition, a study has shown that antibody levels can fall six months after the last immunization.
She stressed that an infection would be even more severe for older adults, people with comorbidities, or auto-immune survivors who cannot participate in COVID-19 vaccinations. Therefore, they must be more vigilant by avoiding crowds or crowded public places, such as malls.
According to her, vaccinations will work optimally if followed up with strong compliance with the health protocols, such as wearing masks, maintaining a safe distance, having enough rest, and consuming nutritious foods.
She emphasized that booster vaccinations must be expanded and accelerated to maintain the community’s immunity. In addition, health protocols are expected to continue to be implemented as the country is gradually moving toward the endemic phase.
Earlier, the third serological survey (serosurvey) held across the country in July 2022 had found that 98.5 percent of Indonesian people have developed antibodies against COVID-19.
“The serosurvey results show an increase in the number of the population who have SARS-CoV-2 antibodies from 87.8 percent in December 2021 to 98.5 percent in July 2022,” an epidemiologist from the University of Indonesia, Iwan Ariawan, informed during a virtual press conference that was broadcast on the Health Ministry’s YouTube channel on August 11, 2022.
The survey was conducted under a collaboration between the Health Ministry and the pandemic team of the Public Health Faculty (FKM) of the University of Indonesia (UI).
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