UNAIR NEWS – Postgraduate School of Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) held another Airlangga Forum on Friday, January 21, 2022. This Airlangga Forum was on “Managing Community Immunity Against Omicron”” with Prof. Theresia Indah Budhy S, drg., M.Kes., as Coordinator of Immunology Master’s Program of UNAIR Postgraduate School and Dr. Erwin Ashta Triyono, dr., Sp.PD., KPTI., FINASIM as Head of East Java Provincial Health Office.
Starting her session, Prof. There explained about the Omicron variant that has more mutation than the previous variant. Unlike the Delta variant, Omicron variant symptoms are less severe but must be watched out for. The ability to spread faster than previous variants made the Omicron variant more dangerous.
“Omicron has more mutation as a part of Sarcov 2 virus mutation. Unlike Delta, the symptoms are less severe, but it still needs to be cautioned. Sarcov 2 virus is not yet declared as gone and will still be mutating, it is dangerous for them with the low immune system and higher risks,” she explained.
Moreover, Prof. There mentioned steps that people can do to avoid the Omicron variant. People can avoid the Omicron variant if they obey health protocols, such as wearing masks correctly, washing hands with soap, hand sanitizer, wet tissues containing antiseptics, and physical distancing and avoiding the crowd. Prof. There also suggested that people stay healthy, especially during current weather.
“Most importantly, drastic changes in temperature and changes in endurance that cause the immune system to go up and down, for people not to be affected by the weather at this time the public has to maintain health. And the last one is that we must keep the spirit, stay happy, take care of the food intake, and rest enough,” she said.
Furthermore, dr. Erwin mentioned that Covid-19 is a disease that can heal on its own and needs internal immunity to fight from inside our body. Dr. Erwin also stated that whatever the virus, the treatment is the same. The key to virus disease is immunity from our body; therefore, how to think positively, including good nutrition, became the front gate.
“Our experience while treating Covid-19 patients, we do not prioritize the use of antivirus or excessive medicine, but nutritional support and then we make them happy, as If that place is the best place for them who are ‘isolated,’ so they don’t spread it to other people. And that resulted in positive psychological contribution and immunity improved,” explained the Head of East Java Health Office.
Author: Wiji Astutik
Editor: Binti Q. Masruroh
