Infinitesima ได้รับการสนับสนุนเงินลงทุนตามกลยุทธ์เพื่อเพิ่มกำลังการผลิตของ Metron3D

Infinitesima Metron3D Rapid Probe Metrology System

High throughput, in – line probe metrology system for Semiconductor Manufacturing

ระบบเครื่องมือวัด Metron3D ที่พลิกโฉมวงการของ Infinitesima ให้ความสามารถในการควบคุมกระบวนการ 3D แบบอินไลน์สำหรับอุตสาหกรรมเซมิคอนดักเตอร์สมัยใหม่

อาบิงดอน สหราชอาณาจักร, Aug. 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Infinitesima ภูมิใจประกาศแจ้งการลงทุนที่เสร็จสมบูรณ์เพื่อเพิ่มกำลังการผลิตระบบเครื่องมือวัดเวเฟอร์แบบอินไลน์ขนาด 300 มม. Metron3D เพื่อตอบสนองความต้องการของลูกค้า โดยเริ่มการผลิตตั้งแต่ไตรมาส 4 ของปี 2022

ระบบ Metron3D มาพร้อมกับเทคโนโลยี Rapid Probe Microscope (RPM) ที่ได้รับการยอมรับของบริษัท และโมดูลจากซัพพลายเออร์ระดับแนวหน้าของอุตสาหกรรมเพื่อให้ประสิทธิภาพและความเชื่อถือได้สูงสุด ระบบนี้ได้รับการออกแบบเพื่อให้การควบคุมกระบวนการผลิตแบบอินไลน์ อัตราความเร็วสูง ทำงานอัตโนมัติเต็มรูปแบบ เพื่อตอบสนองความต้องการที่เพิ่มขึ้นสำหรับระบบเครื่องมือวัด 3D ความละเอียดสูงในกระบวนการเซมิคอนดักเตอร์ขั้นสูง

“เราตื่นเต้นมากที่เทคโนโลยีโพรบความเร็วสูงที่พิเศษเฉพาะของเรา รวมถึงความต้องการระบบเครื่องมือวัด 3D แบบอินไลน์ในอุตสาหกรรมที่เพิ่มขึ้นนั้น ส่งผลให้เกิดความสัมพันธ์ที่แน่นแฟ้นกับลูกค้า” ศาสตราจารย์ Andrew Humphris, CTO และผู้ก่อตั้ง Infinitesima กล่าว

การลงทุนรอบนี้ได้รับการสนับสนุนโดย Wonik Investment Partners บริษัทในเครือของ Wonik ที่เป็นบริษัทสัญชาติเกาหลีระดับสากลซึ่งมีการดำเนินธุรกิจหลากหลาย รวมถึงวัสดุและอุปกรณ์สำหรับเซมิคอนดักเตอร์

Dong Su Kim ประธานของ Wonik Investment Partners กล่าวว่า “เรารับรู้ถึงโอกาสที่เติบโตอย่างมีนัยสำคัญสำหรับ Infinitesima เทคโนโลยีระบบเครื่องมือวัด 3D ที่พิเศษเฉพาะ และทีมงานที่มีประสบการณ์สูงของบริษัทนี้สามารถจัดการกับข้อกำหนดที่ท้าทายมากขึ้นสำหรับการควบคุมกระบวนการในอุตสาหกรรมเซมิคอนดักเตอร์สมัยใหม่”

Andrew Dixon ประธาน Infinitesima Chairman และผู้ก่อตั้ง ARC InterCapital กล่าวว่า “เรายินดีที่ได้ทำงานร่วมกับ Wonik Investment Partners ในฐานะผู้ลงทุนร่วมและพาร์ทเนอร์ เช่นเดียวกับการเปิดตัว Metron3D สำหรับผู้ผลิตเซมิคอนดักเตอร์ระดับแนวหน้า”

เกี่ยวกับ Infinitesima

Infinitesima Limited เป็นผู้นำด้านโซลูชันระบบเครื่องมือวัดขั้นสูงสำหรับอุตสาหกรรมเซมิคอนดักเตอร์ที่มีสำนักงานใหญ่ในสหราชอาณาจักร บริษัทเป็นผู้บุกเบิกด้านการผนวกรวมเทคโนโลยีที่เป็นนวัตกรรมกับความสามารถในการตรวจจับบนพื้นผิวแบบ 3 มิติจากกล้องจุลทรรศน์แรงอะตอม การเปิดใช้เลเซอร์ความเร็วสูง และความแม่นยำของอินเทอร์เฟอโรมิเตอร์ และเทคโนโลยี Rapid Probe Microscope (RPM) ซึ่งเป็นเทคโนโลยีที่มีสิทธิบัตรคุ้มครอง

เทคโนโลยี RPM ของบริษัทถูกผนวกรวมเป็นโมดูลโดยบริษัทผู้ผลิตอุปกรณ์เซมิคอนดักเตอร์ระดับแนวหน้า และถูกนำไปใช้โดยผู้ผลิตเซมิคอนดักเตอร์ระดับแนวหน้ามากมาย

ผู้ผลิตเซมิคอนดักเตอร์ต้องการโซลูชันเครื่องมือวัด 3D ความละเอียดสูงเพิ่มมากขึ้นอย่างต่อเนื่องเพื่อควบคุมกระบวนการสมัยใหม่ที่เทคนิคลำแสงออปติคัลและลำแสงอิเล็กตรอนในปัจจุบันไม่สามารถตอบสนองได้ Infinitesima ได้เปิดตัวระบบเครื่องมือวัดความเร็วสูง Metron3D ที่มาพร้อมกับเทคโนโลยี RPM ของบริษัทที่ได้รับสิทธิบัตรเพื่อตอบสนองความต้องการในการควบคุมกระบวนการแบบ 3D ระดับต่ำกว่านาโนเมตร* แบบอินไลน์ที่มีความต้องการจากลูกค้าเพิ่มสูงขึ้น

* 1 นาโนเมตร (nm) เท่ากับ 10-9 เมตร (อะตอมของซิลิคอนมีขนาดเส้นผ่านศูนย์กลางประมาณ 0.2nm)

รูปภาพประกอบของการแถลงนี้สามารถรับชมได้ที่ https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/96b7871e-c1de-4cfd-83de-39232a38dc56

เอกสารแนบ

Company contacts

John Cossins, Business Development and Marketing, Director
john.cossins@infinitesima.com
+1 (512) 221 7561

Peter Jenkins, CEO
peter.jenkins@infinitesima.com
+44 7803 292 044

www.infinitesima.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/6717920

Chase the moon with VistaJet

Chase the moon with VistaJet

Journeys to celebrate

CHASE THE MOON WITH VISTAJET: TOP FIVE EXQUISITE JOURNEYS TO CELEBRATE IN 2022

Hong Kong, August 23, 2022: The full moon brings a layer of magic and mystery that fascinates mankind. VistaJet, the first and only global business aviation company, presents its top five unique full moon experiences not to be missed in 2022.

There are numerous full moon rituals across different cultures, with many celebrating the joy of family reunions. VistaJet Members can make unforgettable memories with once-in-a-lifetime adventures across the globe to mark the upcoming Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival. These experiences cover a range of fascinating destinations – from bespoke staycations in China and learning the ancient traditions of Japan, to exploring the extraordinary natural wonders of Southeast Asia and discovering the myth of Greek Oracles and the incredible civilization of the Incas.

Moonlight Staycations in China
with The House Collective

To celebrate the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, VistaJet is moving from the air to the ground with a series of luxurious staycations enriched with tailor-made hospitality from The House Collective — a group of refined, highly individual properties that defy comparison, with The Opposite House in Beijing, The Upper House in Hong Kong, The Temple House in Chengdu and The Middle House in Shanghai. From exquisite seasonal menus to private wellness experiences, make your Mid-Autumn Festival shine this year.
Mooncakes are a signature delicacy of the festival, and The House Collective will curate unique mooncake pairing experiences tailored to the preferences of VistaJet Members — including a cocktail masterclass experience with the mixologist from Salisterra at The Upper House. These experiences are designed to complement and enhance the flavors of this year’s mooncakes while enjoying expertly mixed tipples.

Malaysia

Celebrate with VistaJet

With a Michelin-starred restaurant at The Opposite House in Beijing, Chengdu Panda Base and culture tours with The Temple House, along with an intimate sanctuary at The Middle House in the heart of Shanghai, pleasures abound at The House Collective.

Full Moon Adventures
with Ariodante

The Oracles in Greece

A magical and thrilling adventure under the auspice of Selena, the goddess of the moon, where history blends with mythology and astronomy, designed as a journey of initiation into the ancient divinatory arts.

This bespoke two-week trip by land and sea across the Greek regions of Epirus, Peloponnese and Attica takes VistaJet Members to walk in the footsteps of the Greek gods, heroes and historical figures like Homer, Pythia the priestess of Delphi, Aristotle, and more. Alongside archaeologists, historians and artists, visit places not accessible to the public, museums, historical sites, and even see the gates to the underworld.

Through exclusive visits and private gastronomic experiences, guests share an incredible journey ending with a private artistic performance in a UNESCO site where ancient Greek and Chinese poetry and divination come together under the full moon. Key destinations include Athens, Ioannina, Corfu, Nafplion, Porto-Heli and Epidaurus.

In Search of the Lost City of the Incas

Embark on an awe-inspiring adventure to discover the Inca civilization, the largest empire in pre-Columbian America, from the origins of their empire to their annihilation by the Spanish conquistadors in 1572. During this three-week journey in search of the Lost City of the Incas, VistaJet Members will discover the civilization from which the Incas descended, the remains of the empire and other incredible sites including the rainbow mountain, the mummies of Arequipa, the condors of Colca Valley and the mysterious Nazca lines. Other exciting activities include flying over the Sacred Valley of the Incas in a hot air balloon, diving into Lake Titicaca, accessing secretive historical places, and sharing an extraordinary display of Chinese lanterns in Machu Pichu under the full moon with your family.

Key destinations include La Paz, Tiwanaku, Lake Titicaca (island of the sun and island of the moon), Raqchi Archaeological Park, Vinicuna, Sacred Valley (Aguas Calientes, Moray, Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu, Cusco), Arequipa, Colca Valley, Nazca, Vilcabamba and Lima.

In Pursuit of the Moon Queen

From the cultural melting pot of Kuala Lumpur and the small chain of volcanic islands rising out of the deep that makes up the Spice Islands to the limestone isles of Raja Ampat and the sumptuous yet critically endangered tigers of Sumatra, this is a once-in-a-lifetime voyage through remote, unforgettable locations. The three-week journey begins in Kuala Lumpur before flying southeast to Ambon, where VistaJet Members embark on a magical cruise in search of Yoisi, the Moon-Queen of the Moluccans and Nyi Roro Kidul, the queen of the Southern Sea in Javanese mythology. A cruise in pursuit of the moon will take you to explore these remote islands that were, in the 16th century, an important strategic base for the highly profitable spice trade and are today a natural treasure of incredible beauty and history.

On board a magnificent 65m wooden sailing yacht, Members will cruise through the Spice Islands to discover natural wonders underwater, meet with the Alifuru tribe to witness a traditional warrior dance, visit the Manuela National Park to see endemic wildlife, walk through the historical nutmeg plantations in Banda Bearm, and even take part in the Kora-Kora war ceremonial in Pulau Ai. After stopping on the tiny island of Koon, a veritable natural aquarium of turquoise waters, we will sail north towards Misool and Raja Ampat, the world’s most bio-diverse marine ecosystem.

The journey concludes on the island of Sumatra, where Members can spend the remaining days of the trip helping to protect the last majestic tigers of Sumatra in a private conservation area in the Sumatran rain forest.

A Refined Tsukimi in Japan

During Tsukimi in Japan, family and friends gather under the full moon with seasonal food and sake as offerings to the moon, traditionally as a prayer for a good harvest. VistaJet’s version of Tsukimi brings Members to Japan, following the moon’s phases to create refined Kaisekis (traditional Japanese multi-course dinner) at every step. The trip will culminate in an extraordinary private ceremony to the full moon held in one of Japan’s most beautiful temples with an unseen dance and taiko performance.

Along the journey, guests will discover the three classical Japanese arts of refinement (kadō — the way of flowers, kōdō — the way of fragrance, and chadō — the way of tea) in iconic private locations such as Imperial Villa, an ancient temple, and the home of a distinguished art collector. Discover Japanese calligraphy on the floor elevated into pure art with one of the most renowned Japanese calligraphy artists and enjoy a refined saké tasting with the Geishas in Kyoto.

This is a sophisticated ten-day-long voyage through Japan’s ancient traditions, history, philosophy and arts. A one-of-a-kind voyage linking the origins of Japan by meeting with the country’s oldest tribe, the Ainu people, discovering the ruins of Asuka (the Imperial capital from 538 to 710 AD), sites such as Engaku-Ji, Eikando, Toshogu, and so much more. This trip can be extended to discover some of the most outstanding natural places in Japan and see the incredible wildlife of those remote areas.

For more details, please visit https://www.vistajet.com/privateworld/.

Media Contacts:

VistaJet                                        CatchOn, a Finn Partners Company
Amy Yang                        Florence Leung
T: +852 2901 0502                T: +852 2807 0222

E: amy.yang@vistajet.com        E: florence.leung@finnpartners.com

About VistaJet
VistaJet is the first and only global aviation company — flying corporations, governments and private clients on its fleet of iconic silver and red business jets to 187 countries, covering 96% of the world. Founded in 2004 by Thomas Flohr, the company pioneered an innovative business model where clients have access to an entire fleet while paying only for the hours they fly, free of the responsibilities and asset risks linked to aircraft ownership. VistaJet’s signature Program membership offers clients a bespoke subscription of flight hours, to fly them anytime, anywhere. Clients can also request Direct one-off flights through the industry’s first end-to-end booking app or a 24/7 global team.
VistaJet is part of Vista Global Holding (Vista) — the world’s number one on demand charter operator, integrating a unique portfolio of companies offering asset-light solutions to cover all key aspects of business aviation. Vista clients have access to a global Members’ fleet of over 350 aircraft, including Global 7500, Global 6000, Falcon 7X, Gulfstream 450, Legacy 600 and Challenger 350 jets.
More VistaJet information and news at vistajet.com

VistaJet Limited is a European air carrier that operates 9H registered aircraft under its Maltese Air Operator Certificate No. MT-17 and is incorporated in Malta under Company Number C 55231. VistaJet and its subsidiaries are not U.S. direct carriers. VistaJet-owned and U.S. registered aircraft are operated by properly licensed U.S. air carriers, including XOJET Aviation LLC.

About The House Collective
The House Collective by Swire Hotels is a group of refined, highly individual properties that defy comparison. The Opposite House in Beijing, The Upper House in Hong Kong, The Temple House in Chengdu and The Middle House in Shanghai are all uniquely imagined properties for seasoned travellers who seek a different, intimate and personalised experience in luxury travel. Each House is a sophisticated, singular piece of design, created by talented architects and designers, that reflect the unique qualities of their surroundings.

About Ariodante
Ariodante are travel alchemists that create travel dreams. An Ariodante experience is more than a mere trip. It’s a work of art, imagined and carefully crafted exclusively for clients. It’s an adventure for those who value rarity in its most authentic form and want to travel beyond luxury. It’s for those seeking magic. Created to challenge the travel industry and to raise the bar when it comes to luxury, exclusivity, and creativity, Ariodante has built a solid reputation over the years for achieving incredible money can’t buy experiences that seem impossible for others. A key part of every trip is to leave a positive impact. Their trips help to support projects, people, and places of cultural or natural significance, preserving them for generations to come and believe that “Nothing should cost the earth”. From protecting our planet, to protecting traditions and culture, Ariodante believes that travel should be beneficial for all. From their 200% Carbon offset program to their stance on single-use plastics, they believe that the world should be better off after a trip.
For more information, please visit ariodantetravel.com

Attachments

Cellebrite Wins Multiple Forensic Focus 4:cast Awards, Continuing a Decade-Plus Track Record of Digital Forensics Leadership

Cellebrite sweeps the categories and wins every major award, including DFIR Commercial Tool of the Year and Investigator of the Year three years in a row

PETAH TIKVA, Israel and TYSONS CORNER, Va., Aug. 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cellebrite DI Ltd. (Nasdaq: CLBT), a global leader in Digital Intelligence (DI) solutions for the public and private sectors, today announced that it was honored with winning all the categories for which the company was nominated at the prestigious 2022 Forensic Focus 4:cast awards.

Cellebrite winning every major award for which it was nominated, including DFIR Commercial Tool of the Year and the Investigator of the Year for the third year in a row, proves its continual leadership in digital forensics. This is the 13th consecutive year that Cellebrite has competed in the awards, which began 15 years ago.

Leeor Ben-Peretz, Chief Strategy Officer at Cellebrite, stated: “Winning these awards is validation from the digital forensics community that our portfolio of solutions and staff are world-class. We would like to thank the SANS Institute and Forensic Focus for producing a show that recognizes the best in the industry. Building on our years-long success, we will continue to provide the community with technological innovation that accelerates digital investigations.”

Cellebrite is honored to have received the following awards:

DFIR Commercial Tool of the Year: Awarded to Cellebrite for the suite of tools it produced to speed up and help validate data pertaining to investigations.

Digital Forensic Investigator of the Year: Cellebrite’s investigator won due to the tireless work and research produced every day. The award validates the investigators’ willingness to lend a helping hand no matter the time of day.

DFIR Team of the Year: Receiving this award demonstrates that the DFIR community perceives Cellebrite as their strategic partner, part of their team, working together side by side to promote the concept of “trust but verify.”

DFIR Degree Program or Training Class of the Year: This award recognizes the comprehensive practical offering of guided training courses and certifications, all designed to prepare analysts, law enforcement, and enterprise customers to tackle investigations and technology effectively.

DFIR Social Media Contributor of the Year: In this era of social media, content is king. The Cellebrite social media contributor of the year who won this award is the ultimate contributor of social content. The contributor is always passionate about work and is constantly tweeting, posting, and sharing tips and tricks to the DFIR community.

DFIR Blog of the Year: The Cellebrite Ask the Expert blog series is a platform Cellebrite utilizes to share its findings and insights with the community.

DFIR Show of the Year: During the Covid-19 pandemic the company introduced the I Beg to DFIR webinar. This show runs monthly and focuses on new research, customer questions, and Q&A with our R&D team.

DFIR Article of the Year: Cellebrite’s investigators and thirteen co-authors crafted an article and webinar, named Six Steps to Mobile Validation, that offers DFIR experts the tools they need for handling, documenting, preserving, and validating evidence from a mobile device.

DRIF Capture the Flag (CTF) of the Year: Since its introduction in 2020, the Cellebrite CTF was a huge hit. With thousands of participants across the globe, the CTF has become the industry standard for in-depth CTFs.

About Cellebrite
Cellebrite’s (Nasdaq: CLBT) mission is to enable its customers to protect and save lives, accelerate justice, and preserve privacy in communities around the world. We are a global leader in Digital Intelligence solutions for the public and private sectors, empowering organizations in mastering the complexities of legally sanctioned digital investigations by streamlining intelligence processes. Trusted by thousands of leading agencies and companies worldwide, Cellebrite’s Digital Intelligence platform and solutions transform how customers collect, review, analyze and manage data in legally sanctioned investigations. To learn more visit us at www.cellebrite.com, https://investors.cellebrite.com, or follow us on Twitter at @Cellebrite.

Cellebrite Media
Victor Cooper
Public Relations and Corporate Communications Director
Victor.Cooper@cellebrite.com
+1 404.804.5910

Infinitesima secures strategic investment to ramp production of Metron3D

Infinitesima Metron3D Rapid Probe Metrology System

High throughput, in – line probe metrology system for Semiconductor Manufacturing

Infinitesima’s revolutionary Metron3D metrology system enables in-line 3D process control for next generation semiconductors

ABINGDON, United Kingdom, Aug. 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Infinitesima is pleased to announce the completion of its investment round to ramp production of the Metron3D 300 mm in-line wafer metrology system in support of customer shipments starting from Q4 2022.

The Metron3D system features the company’s proven Rapid Probe Microscope (RPM) technology together with modules from leading industry suppliers to enable maximum performance and reliability. The system has been designed for high throughput, fully automated, in-line production process control to address the increasing need for high resolution 3D metrology in advanced semiconductor processes.

“We are excited that our unique high-speed probe technology, together with the growing industry need for in-line 3D metrology, has resulted in strong customer engagements,” said Professor Andrew Humphris, CTO and founder of Infinitesima.

The investment round was led by Wonik Investment Partners, a subsidiary of the leading international Korean company Wonik, which operates a broad range of businesses, including semiconductor materials and equipment.

Dong Su Kim, President of Wonik Investment Partners, commented, “We recognise the significant growth opportunity for Infinitesima, with its unique 3D metrology technology and experienced team that can address the increasingly challenging requirements for process control of next generation semiconductors.”

Andrew Dixon, Infinitesima Chairman and founder of ARC InterCapital, said, “We are delighted to welcome Wonik Investment Partners as a co-investor and partner as we introduce the Metron3D at leading semiconductor manufacturers.”

About Infinitesima

Infinitesima Limited is a UK based leader in advanced metrology solutions for the semiconductor industry. The company has pioneered an innovative technology combining the 3-dimensional surface detection capability of atomic force microscopy, with high-speed laser activation, and the accuracy of interferometry, the Rapid Probe Microscope (RPM), protected by an extensive patent portfolio.

The company’s RPM technology has been integrated as a module by leading semiconductor equipment companies and is in use at leading semiconductor manufacturers.

Semiconductor manufacturers increasingly require higher resolution 3D metrology solutions to control next generation processes that cannot be addressed by current optical and electron beam techniques. Infinitesima has introduced a high-speed metrology system, Metron3D, featuring the company’s patented RPM technology, to address the growing customer need for in-line sub-nanometer* 3D process control.

* 1 nanometer (nm) is 10-9 of a meter (a single silicon atom is ~0.2nm in diameter).

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e2690301-9698-4cf8-a3bd-bb69d9c609ca

Attachments

Company contacts

John Cossins, Business Development and Marketing, Director
john.cossins@infinitesima.com
+1 (512) 221 7561

Peter Jenkins, CEO
peter.jenkins@infinitesima.com
+44 7803 292 044

www.infinitesima.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/6717920

Arts, culture effective in spreading moderate religious outlook

Arts and culture are two mediums that can be used to disseminate information on moderate religious outlook and religious teachings, according to the Religious Affairs Ministry’s director general of Muslim Community Guidance, Kamaruddin Amin.

“Arts and cultural approaches have been proven to provide goodness and common benefit,” Amin stated while opening the Islamic Arts and Culture Potentials Exploration workshop here, Tuesday.

The director general pointed out that arts and culture are the instruments to spread messages on virtue, harmony, and peace, which are consistent with the nature of Islam as a blessing for the universe.

Proselytization, through the arts and cultural mediums, will be accepted more easily by residents, as art is a universal language, he remarked.

“Arts is the universal language that can (serve as a) bridge (between) different religions, cultures, and ethnic groups. Everyone is fond of art in spite of differences in sensitivity levels and instincts,” Amin noted.

Meanwhile, the ministry’s arts, culture, and religious broadcasting sub-directorate head, Sayid Alwi Fahmi, underlined arts and culture as a strategic medium for proselytization.

“Islam holds arts and culture in high esteem. The spread of Islam from the past to the present still relies on arts and culture, which are an effective medium for proselytization,” the sub-directorate head remarked.

The Islamic Arts and Culture Potentials Exploration workshop is attended by students from various universities in the Greater Jakarta Region that are expected to participate by contributing arts and cultural content, with high esteem to religious moderation values.

Cultural practitioners, artists, and digital media practitioners are among the speakers that will address participants during the three-day workshop.

Source: Antara News

Be prepared for virus mutations in 2023, minister tells citizens

Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin has asked Indonesian citizens to remain alert and prepare for the projected emergence of new virus mutations in the first three months of 2023.

“There will be new virus variants due to the high number of confirmed cases. Indonesia must be prepared,” he said at a press conference after attending a meeting held to evaluate community mobility restrictions (PPKM) here on Tuesday.

Indonesia must prepare to face the variants since other countries, such as Japan, the United States, and several countries in Europe, are experiencing a significant spike in COVID-19 cases, he added.

Daily positive cases in Europe and the US have been recorded at 100 thousand, while in Japan, their number has breached 200 thousand.

Another reason for increased vigilance is the occurrence of viral mutations and the emergence of new sub-variants, Sadikin said.

The current increase in positive cases is linked to the emergence of new sub-variants, such as BA.4 and BA.5, in the community, he explained.

He said that Indonesia has not experienced a new wave of COVID-19 infections because the protection from antibodies at the community level has increased to 98.5 percent or 2 thousand units per milliliter. However, positive cases can explode at any time due to virus mutations that are continuing to occur.

“We will face a new challenge in the next six months when the antibodies start to decrease,” Sadikin said.

Indonesia is one of the few countries that have managed to surpass the BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variant waves, he added. He then asked all parties to work together to prevent another wave of COVID-19.

People must maintain their immunity, balanced with the current rate of COVID-19 vaccination, to reduce the possibility of a new wave, he said.

If Indonesia manages to maintain good conditions, it is likely to become one of the best countries in dealing with the pandemic for 12 months in a row, he added.

“Our challenge now is to prepare for the next wave around January, February, and March 2023,” he said.

Source: Antara News

Govt planning to roll out another COVID booster this year

The Indonesian Government is preparing to provide another booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in late 2022 to bolster community immunity and as part of anticipatory measures against the potential emergence of new coronavirus subvariants.

The decision on the provision of the additional booster was one of the results of the limited cabinet meeting on the evaluation of public activity restrictions (PPKM) chaired by President Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin informed here the same day.

“So, we discussed with the President, at the end of the year, we will carry out vaccinations, especially for groups with low immunity,” he said.

The determination of the targeted recipients for the provision of the additional booster dose will take into account the results of a serosurvey that will be held in November 2022.

“(It will determine) Which (are the) regions where immunity has decreased, then which people are at high risk. Later, we will provide vaccination to them to increase, prepare, and improve the immunity level of the community,” he informed.

According to Sadikin, Indonesia must prepare to anticipate the potential emergence of new COVID-19 subvariants in Europe and the United States due to the high number of infections.

Even though currently, the seven-day moving average of daily cases is still 4,683, or relatively lower than other countries, Indonesia will face the challenge six months from now or around January–March 2023, the minister said.

“If we can face it (the challenge) like now, Indonesia will be a country that can handle the pandemic for 12 (months) in a row,” he added.

For this reason, Indonesia must maintain the current level of immunity: 98.5 percent of Indonesian people have developed antibodies against COVID-19, based on the results of the serosurvey in July 2022.

He noted that the challenge of maintaining the level of immunity is different because the pace of vaccination is already sloping, and the infection rate is low.

As part of efforts to boost community immunity against COVID-19, the Indonesian government launched a nationwide vaccination program on January 13, 2021.

According to data provided by the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, as of August 23, 2022, as many as 203,146,408 Indonesians have received the first vaccine dose, 170,727,467 have been administered the second dose, and 59,658,577 have taken the third or booster dose.

Source: Antara News

Ministry to further study children’s vaccinations to boost immunity

The government will conduct further studies on the COVID-19 immunization of children and the elderly as part of efforts to strengthen the development of antibodies in the community, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has informed.

“One of the initiatives was the President’s direction to vaccinate children under six years old. We will explore that direction. There was a vaccine for children under six years old, namely pediatric vaccination,” he said at a press conference after an evaluation meeting on community activity restrictions (PPKM) in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He informed that his ministry is currently studying the option of providing COVID-19 shots to vulnerable groups who have not been able to take vaccinations. The study includes the elderly and comorbid patients.

The plan is to vaccinate groups with low antibody levels by the end of 2022. In addition, the government is increasing the dose of COVID-19 vaccine boosters for the elderly and comorbid groups according to their regions.

This effort is continuously being pursued to maintain antibodies in the community, which can decrease six months after vaccination, Sadikin said.

“We will immediately provide an alternative to the existing vaccines as an effort to increase immunity level and also to maintain the level of immunity in our population. We must be prepared to face the new variant next year,” he added.

According to the minister, a decrease in antibodies cannot be underestimated since virus mutations will continue to occur, even if the symptoms they cause are milder compared to the previous variants.

“Virus mutation will prolong the host’s life, that is why the virus mutation will be weaker than the previous one. The host wants to prolong its life by mutating. That is why Omicron is weaker than Delta,” he explained.

The government has valid data on vaccination coverage, he said. It is hoped that the vaccine distribution will prioritize the right targets.

He said he hopes the vaccination effort will help maintain people’s antibody levels since the country will face the possibility of a fresh COVID-19 virus mutation in early 2023.

“We will prioritize vaccination based on the last time recipients received their vaccine. People who have not completed their vaccination in a long time will have lower antibody (levels). We will prioritize them,” Sadikin added.

Source: Antara News