"Not all six-year-olds have attended school; some of them have finished early childhood education but have not entered elementary school yet. Therefore, we need to accommodate them," head of the Jakarta Health Office Widyastuti said.
Vaccination services for those children are planned to be provided at community health centers (puskesmas), hospitals, public service places, neighborhoods, even malls, she informed.
However, COVID-19 vaccinations for children aged 6–11 years will still be prioritized in schools due to faster and more accessible data collection on vaccination participants, she said.
Basic immunization programs that have been routinely carried out at schools would make it easier for children to take part in COVID-19 vaccinations because they are already accustomed to immunization, she added.
"Then, psychologically, there are class teachers who can accompany children even though parents are also allowed," she said.
Children's vaccinations in Jakarta are being carried out in all schools with health officers from the community health centers serving as vaccinators, she noted.
The number of children aged 6–11 years in Jakarta as per the Basic Education Data (Dapodik) is 1.1 million, Widyastuti informed.
The Indonesian government launched a nationwide vaccination program on January 13, 2021, to build community immunity against COVID-19.
It recently commenced COVID-19 vaccinations for children in the 6–11 age group 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.
Related news: Over 500,000 children aged 6 -11 vaccinated in a week
Related news: 106.02 million Indonesians fully immunized against COVID-19
Related news: IPA lauds govt for vaccination drive for children aged 6--11
Translator: Dewa Ketut, Raka Adji
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
