Vaccination is the administration of vaccines (antigens) that can stimulate the formation of immunity (antibodies) of the immune system in the body. Vaccination is a primary prevention effort that is very reliable in blocking disease when it attacks the body. If one day the person is exposed to the disease, they will not get sick or only experience mild pain. So, the Covid-19 vaccine is useful for providing body protection by generating or stimulating specific immunity in the body. Furthermore, the Covid-19 vaccination can also prevent the spread of the coronavirus to other people. Then it is expected to break the chain of disease transmission and stop the outbreak, and in the long run, eliminate or even eradicate the virus.
The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences supports the Universitas Sumatera Utara program in preparing everything to carry out face-to-face lectures (PTM), both students, lecturers, staff, and lecture rooms even though the pandemic period has not ended. This is in accordance with the Joint Decree of the Minister of Education and Culture, Minister of Religion, Minister of Health, and Minister of Home Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia Number 03/KB/2021, Number 384 of 2021, Number HK.01.08/MENKES/4242/2021, and Number 440-717 of 2021 concerning Guidelines for Implementing Learning during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic, so that face-to-face lectures are limited while still implementing health protocols, and/or online learning. In organizing learning, universities must continue to prioritize the health and safety of campus residents (students, lecturers, education personnel) and the surrounding community. Therefore, one of the NCD preparations that is being carried out by USU and supported by all faculties in the USU environment, including FMIPA, is carrying out Covid-19 vaccinations for USU students with a target of 2200 doses of vaccine per day. This vaccination program was carried out from 27 September to 7 October 2021 at the Pancasila Building, USU Medan.
USU Rector, Dr. Muryanto Amin, S.Sos, MSi, said the COVID-19 vaccination process carried out was the university's preparation for face-to-face lectures, which are planned to be held in the next semester at the earliest. In addition, Mury also added that face-to-face meetings will be held if the vaccination has reached 70 percent of the number of USU students who have been vaccinated. In addition to COVID-19 vaccination, USU also organizes PCR swabs for students, lecturers, and staff as part of the preparation for PTM later. According to the head of the USU vaccination center committee, dr. Inke Nadia D. Lubis, M.Ked (Ped), SpA, PhD, said that the COVID-19 vaccination and PCR swab are also open to the general public due to the high enthusiasm of the community.
On this occasion, the Dean of FMIPA, Dr. Nursahara Pasaribu, M.Sc, also participated in carrying out PCR swabs at Pancasila Building, Medan. “This PCR is an important thing to ensure the current condition of the body in a healthy state free from Covid-19, so that it can prepare itself for face-to-face lectures,” she said. Swab PCR is done to find out the state of health of a person's body. If the results are positive for Covid-19, then steps can be taken immediately to protect those around them. However, if the results are negative, students, lecturers, and staff in the FMIPA campus environment must remain vigilant and disciplined with health protocols. This is where the importance of doing PCR swabs. Until now, swab PCR is a diagnostic examination that is considered the most accurate to confirm whether someone has COVID-19 or not. Therefore, to protect USU's smart generation, especially prospective FMIPA scientists, vaccination and PCR swabs are one of the steps to prepare for face-to-face lectures.