Moreover, face-to-face learning has now started to be resumed.
Bandung, W Java (ANTARA) - The State Intelligence Agency (BIN) has begun vaccinating children aged 6–11 in West Java province, head of the West Java Regional BIN, Brigadier General Deddy Agus Purwanto, has informed.

"This is the first implementation of vaccinations for elementary school students in Indonesia. We have provided 400 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for third, fourth, and sixth-grade students," he said in a statement received here on Wednesday.

The implementation of vaccinations for elementary school (SD) students is in accordance with the Letter of Health Minister Number SR.01.02/4/3309/2021, he added.

The agency had vaccinated elementary school students at SDN Sukatani 07 and SDN 01 Depok in Depok city, West Java province, on Wednesday, he said.

The program has only been permitted in nine cities/districts in the province, he added.

They are Depok city, Cimahi city, Bogor city, Bekasi city, Banjar city, Bandung city, Ciamis district, Bekasi district, and West Bandung district, he said.

According to Purwanto, the vaccination program targeting elementary school students aims to facilitate face-to-face learning by curbing the transmission of COVID-19.

"Thus, it is very important. Vaccination can create herd immunity. It is our attempt to fight the pandemic. Moreover, face-to-face learning has now started to be resumed," he said.

The vaccination program was carried out after Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin issued Ministerial Decree Number HK.01.07/MENKES/6688/2021 on the Implementation of the COVID-19 Vaccination for Children aged 6–11 years old, he added.

The decree was based on the recommendation of the Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI) through its Letter Number 166/ITAGI/Adm/XII/2021 dated December 9, 2021, regarding the Study of COVID-19 Vaccination for Children aged 6–11 years old.

In the first stage, the program will be conducted in provinces and cities/districts where first dose coverage has reached 70 percent and the vaccination coverage among the elderly has reached 60 percent.

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Translator: Bagus Rizaldi, Uyu Liman
Editor: Suharto
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