Jakarta, 8 Maret 2021

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health's COVID-19 Vaccination Dr. Siti Nadia Tarmidzi, M.Epid emphasized that the COVID-19 vaccine currently in use is effective against the mutation of the COVID-19 virus. “Until now there has been no research or scientific evidence that shows vaccines that have been produced and have been used in various parts of the world cannot protect us from this new variant of the virus. The vaccines used in our efforts to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic are still very effective,” said Dr. Nadia.

The characteristics of the B117 variant are more contagious, but WHO has not received reports of evidence that the COVID-19 mutation virus has a higher level of malignancy. Research in other countries, the B117 variant is said to be more contagious but not more deadly.

Regarding the addition of four new cases confirming the COVID-19 B117 virus mutation, Dr. Nadia said that all four are in good health, none of which are indicated to have severe symptoms. And until now the results of tracking cases against close contacts and families have also stated that no one has symptoms leading to COVID-19.

“We reiterate that the four cases with the B117 variant have now recovered. They have undergone treatment and management, all of them experience mild and moderate symptoms and only carry out isolation centrally in isolation places and some are hospitalized but with mild and moderate conditions,” said Dr. Nadia.

These four new cases were obtained from the results of the Whole Genome Sequencing examination conducted by the Health Research and Development Agency together with 16 other laboratories in Indonesia. So that currently there are six positive confirmed cases of COVID-19, after previously (1/3) two positive cases of COVID-19 with the B117 virus variant were found who traveled abroad. “The four variants of the B117 virus were found in 4 provinces, namely in North Sumatra, South Sumatra, East Kalimantan and South Kalimantan,” explained Dr. Nadia.

Dr. Nadia appealed that with the addition of COVID-19 case variant B117, the public is asked to be more vigilant and continue to apply discipline in implementing health protocols, namely wearing masks maintaining distance washing hands including reducing mobility and avoiding crowds.

Source: Indonesian Ministry of Health