FK-KMK UGM. In response to the challenges of new COVID-19 waves and the threat of Long COVID, the Center for Health Policy and Management (PKMK) of the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing (FK-KMK) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) collaborated with the University of Oxford and supported by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to host the “Closing Site Yogyakarta: Dissemination of Research Findings on the Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters in Indonesia.” The event was held at Swiss-Belboutique Hotel Yogyakarta on Monday, December 2, 2024.
The research, initiated in March 2023, aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of administering three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine compared to two doses in symptomatic patients. Data for the study were collected from 14 healthcare facilities in Jakarta and Yogyakarta, marking a significant step in understanding the impact of booster vaccinations on preventing severe symptoms and reducing the risk of Long COVID.
As COVID-19 cases surge due to the new JN.1 variant, now responsible for 43% of confirmed cases in Indonesia, the relevance of this research has grown significantly. The findings are expected to serve as evidence-based guidance for policymakers to accelerate booster vaccination programs.
The event included key activities such as the presentation of research findings that demonstrated the booster’s effectiveness in mitigating severe symptoms and minimizing Long COVID risks, an evaluation of the research project’s implementation, and recognition of hospitals, laboratories, and community health centers that played vital roles in the study’s success. Discussions also covered achievements, challenges, and critical lessons learned during the research process, aimed at ensuring the sustainability and effectiveness of future vaccination programs.
“These findings are expected to lay the groundwork for more effective policies in addressing the COVID-19 threat amid the emergence of new variants,” stated a representative from PKMK FK-KMK UGM during a press briefing.
PKMK FK-KMK UGM is optimistic that the research results will not only strengthen booster vaccination programs but also pave the way for continuous research, particularly on Long COVID management in Indonesia. Further studies are essential to understand how booster doses provide protection against various new COVID-19 variants and their long-term impacts.
With an evidence-based approach and technological support, PKMK FK-KMK UGM hopes this research will serve as a foundation for more strategic measures to tackle COVID-19 challenges in the future. Through collaborations with international and national partners, PKMK FK-KMK UGM remains committed to contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3), Quality Education (SDG 4), Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9), Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17). (Isroq Adi Subakti/Reporter).
