Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Pediatric Association (IDAI) is still studying indicators regarding the provision of COVID-19 vaccines to children aged below six years.

"Many people are currently talking about the issue of vaccines for children because we have seen that in several countries, they have started to use (COVID-19) vaccines for younger children," member of IDAI’s tropical infections coordination unit, Nina Dwi Putri, said at the "Update on Management of COVID-19” webinar, which was accessed from here on Tuesday.

Putri affirmed that the study in Indonesia will continue to be carried out even though a number of countries have begun to provide various types of COVID-19 vaccines for children under the age of six along with studies on the provision of booster vaccinations for adolescents.

The study is looking into the vaccine's effectiveness and the benefits and side effects that children may experience.

According to Putri, a more in-depth study will have to be carried out because, based on IDAI data, the full dose vaccination coverage among children aged six years and above has not yet reached the target.

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"The principle is the same as what has been conveyed. Whatever vaccines are currently available, they are the vaccines that we can use and the best vaccines that can be used,” she stressed.

She informed that once the vaccination target, especially for the full dose, for children aged 6 years and above is reached, IDAI will immediately make a decision regarding the provision of booster doses for children.

"Hopefully, in two weeks ahead, we, the IDAI, can give a recommendation," she said.

She also appealed to the community to complete COVID-19 vaccinations of children while waiting for the results of the study that IDAI is currently carrying out.

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Translator: Hreeloita Dharma, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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