An Indonesian nurse has died from COVID-19 after receiving one of two mandatory vaccine shots, with the government highlighting the importance of adherence to health protocols on top of the ongoing mass vaccination program.
Erny Kusuma Sukma Dewi, a 33-year-old nurse from Blitar, East Java, passed away on Feb. 14 while she was being treated for COVID-19 and underlying conditions, an association of nurses in the regency confirmed.
“The latest diagnoses were COVID-19, pneumonia, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and obesity,” Ta’adi, secretary at the Blitar chapter of the National Union of Indonesian Nurses, said yesterday.
According to the association, Erny received a shot of the CoronaVac vaccine on Jan. 28 as part of the nationwide program to inoculate health workers from COVID-19. Before she was able to receive her second mandatory shot, she complained of fever, difficulty breathing, and cough on Feb. 5 and was admitted to a local hospital. She was admitted to the ICU on Feb. 6 before eventually passing away on Feb. 14.
In an official statement, the Health Ministry offered its condolences for Erny’s passing but warned those who are getting vaccinated must not let their guard down, especially if they have only received one of two required shots of the CoronaVac vaccine.
The ministry said the vaccine can only trigger a partial immune response after the first shot of the CoronaVac vaccine and a full immune response after the second shot, which is given 14 to 28 days after the first.
