This morning, I come to see the start of vaccination for children aged 6-11 years. Across Indonesia, we need to vaccinate around 26.5 million children, with 1.2 million specifically in JakartaJakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) reviewed COVID-19 vaccination for children in the age bracket of six to 11 years at the Cideng Elementary School Complex in Gambir on Wednesday.
"This morning, I come to see the start of vaccination for children aged 6-11 years. Across Indonesia, we need to vaccinate around 26.5 million children, with 1.2 million specifically in Jakarta," Jokowi remarked.
The head of state lauded the start of COVID-19 vaccination for children in Jakarta and pressed for similar activities to be conducted in other provinces.
Through this vaccination, Jokowi is optimistic that children would be protected from the spread of COVID-19, either the old or new variants.
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"Apart from COVID-19 vaccination, these children also need to receive basic immunization for protection against other diseases. The Health Ministry with Health Services will arrange this. We are optimistic of wrapping up everything soon," Jokowi remarked.
Meanwhile, during the vaccination, some 200 elementary school students aged 6-11 years were administered the Sinovac vaccine. They comprised 44 students from the Cideng 4 Elementary School, 59 students from the Cideng 13 Elementary School, 44 students from the Cideng 9 Elementary School, and 53 students from the Cideng 10 Elementary School.
Vaccination for children was conducted in accordance with the recommendation of the Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI) through Circular number 166/ITAGI/Adm/XII/2021, dated December 9, 2021, regarding the Study of COVID-19 Vaccination in Children aged 6 -11 years old.
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Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin has also issued Health Minister's Decree Number HK.01.07./MENKES/6688/2021 on the implementation of vaccination for the CoronaVirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) for Children Aged 6 to 11 years that he signed on December 13, 2021.
Also accompanying the head of state to review the vaccination were Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Nadiem Makarim; Deputy Minister of Health Dante Saksono Harbuwono; and Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan.
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Earlier, Acting Director-General of Disease Prevention and Control of the Health Ministry Maxi Rein Rondonuwu remarked that COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 6-11 years had begun on December 14, with the number of vaccinations targeted to reach 26 million more children based on the 2020 population census data.
The Health Ministry will prioritize using the Sinovac vaccine for children aged 6 to 11 years since the vaccine brand had obtained an emergency-use permit from the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM).
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Translator: Desca Lidya N, Resinta S
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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