If the vaccination for children in the age bracket of six to 11 years is conducted within less than two months, then it would ensure protection for children from the threat of the third wave at the end of the year.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - House of Representatives' (DPR's) Commission IX deputy speaker, Charles Honoris, here, Tuesday, advised to not delay COVID-19 vaccination for children in the age bracket of six to 11 years until next year.

Honoris pointed out that the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) had already issued the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the use of the Sinovac vaccine for children in the age bracket of six to 11 years.

Hence, once recommendation from the Indonesia Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI) and Indonesian Pediatric Society (IDAI) is rolled out, the Health Ministry should immediately vaccinate children, the House deputy speaker stated.

Vaccination for these children should be conducted this year on the account of the risk of a third wave of infection due to the increase in public mobility at the end-of-year vacation period, he remarked.

"If the vaccination for children in the age bracket of six to 11 years is conducted within less than two months, then it would ensure protection for children from the threat of the third wave at the end of the year," he noted.

This will additionally expand the scope of the people protected by vaccination, the deputy speaker noted.

On account of the quite large population of children in the age bracket of six to 11 years, the government should also prepare for the availability of vaccine stocks and distribution for them, he affirmed.

Vaccination is expected to run smoothly if there are sufficient vaccines and also functioning infrastructure, he emphasized.

With children in the age bracket of six to 11 years being vaccinated, all kids in that school-age group will have been inoculated, Honoris affirmed.

"We are optimistic that this condition would expedite normalization of the education sector, as it has often faced issues for almost two years due to the pandemic," he stated.
Related news: IDAI urges parents to get children vaccinated
Related news: COVID-19: BPOM approves Sinovac vaccine for kids aged 6-11

Translator: Boyke Watra, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Suharto
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