Jakarta The government is continuing to expedite efforts to vaccinate vulnerable groups and children to limit the potential spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, has said.

“In this case, because many children are also affected, the vaccination of children needs to be pushed,” he said in an official statement after a meeting at the Presidential Palace on Monday.

The President has also asked for the preparation of booster vaccinations so that they can be administered from January 2022, Hartarto said. The delivery of booster vaccinations will be regulated by the Health Ministry, he informed.

“So, we are finalizing the PBI-based vaccine and also the non-PBI vaccine,” he said.

Currently, the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has been detected in 45 countries, he noted. It has prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to request genome sequencing, limit community activities, and hasten the vaccination of vulnerable people, he said.

In preparation for the year-end holidays, the President has asked that the number of people participating in activities be capped at 50, Hartarto informed. The policy will be adjusted to the WHO’s advice, stipulated in the regulations set by the Home Affairs Ministry, he said.

Source: Antara News