"The state's efforts to provide vaccines for children are a manifestation of the state's optimal efforts to fulfill the health rights enshrined in Law Number 35 of 2014 on Child Protection," Head of the commission's Division of Supervision, Monitoring, and Evaluation, Jasra Putra, noted in a written statement here on Tuesday.
The law's article 44 stipulates that the state and local governments are obliged to provide facilities and undertake comprehensive health efforts for children in order to attain optimal health quality since the time they are in the womb, he emphasized.
Although vaccination for children is only targeted for those in the age group of 12 to 17 years, Putra believes that this policy can create an environment that strengthens every child in conducting activities amid the implementation of Micro-scale Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM).
Putra pointed to the 1.2-1.7 percent risk of transmitting COVID-19 among children, thereby eliciting the attention of several parties.
Citing the Indonesian Pediatrician Association's data, Jasra noted that out of the eight people infected with COVID-19, one was a child.
The children's COVID-19 infection rate reached 12.7 percent. Out of the eight people that contracted the virus, one was is a child, he remarked.
Putra believed that the vaccination program for children would contribute to attaining the government’s target of herd immunity. Related news: Vaccination for children important amid high child mortality rate: VP
Related news: Children constitute 12.6% of COVID-19 transmission cases: IDAI chief
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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Fardah
Editor: Suharto
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