Health workers in Surabaya to receive third vaccine dose this week

Surabaya (ANTARA) - The Health Office of Surabaya City, East Java Province, will start administering the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to healthcare workers since this week.

Head of the Surabaya Health Office Febria Rachmanita stated here on Tuesday that the city government had received a supply of Moderna vaccine  to be used to administer the third dose of vaccine jab to health workers on duty at hospitals and health centers.

"The Moderna vaccine is for healthcare workers, and the plan (injection) is this week. We are currently still conducting data collection," she remarked.

Rachmanita highlighted that 2.8 million people in Surabaya City are targeted to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. Currently, 1.5 million people have received the first dose of the vaccine, and 790 thousand people are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Rachmanita noted that the Health Office was awaiting to receive the supply of the Sinovac vaccine from the central government to resume injecting the second dose of vaccine to people that had received the first dose of vaccine injection.

Administration of the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will be conducted after the vaccine supply from the central government arrives, she revealed.

"Everyone’s turn to get vaccinated will come, so do not worry," Rachmanita stated.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin had earlier made assurance that vaccinated healthcare workers in the country will be offered a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or booster to strengthen their immune response.

The Health Ministry has issued Director General of Communicable Disease Prevention and Control’s Circular Letter HK.02.01/1/1919/2021 on the third-dose vaccination for all healthcare workers, assistant health workers, and supporting workers involved in offering health service facilities.