Currently, we are still awaiting recommendation from the Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI) because several countries have conducted it (vaccination for children aged under six)
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health Mohammad Syahril stated that the ministry is currently considering the proposal of administering primary COVID-19 vaccine doses to children below six years of age.

"Currently, we are still awaiting recommendation from the Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI) because several countries have conducted it (vaccination for children aged under six)," Syahril noted when contacted by phone here on Friday.

Syahril, who concurrently serves as president director of Sulianti Saroso Hospital, remarked that vaccine stock availability was one of the essential considerations discussed by the Health Ministry and ITAGI regarding the vaccination program for children below six years of age.


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This is since the vaccination program for children below six years of age may be rolled out in line with the government's target to pursue the achievement of booster vaccinations among adults and older adults.

"The first, second, and booster dose vaccinations are still a priority for the government and have not made other priorities," he affirmed.

In addition, the spokesperson noted that the government was contemplating on the provision of administering a third or booster vaccine dose to children in the age bracket of 6-18 years in the country as well as providing a fourth dose or a second booster dose for the community.

According to Syahril, the level of immunity provided by the vaccine dose would decrease in six months.

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Meanwhile, experts in health sciences and epidemiology forecast that COVID-19 would continue to exist in the community for a long time.

As part of the efforts to boost the community's immunity against COVID-19, the Indonesian government launched a nationwide vaccination program on January 13, 2021, targeting as many as 208,265,720 citizens across the country.

According to data provided by the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, as of July 21, 2022, as many as 202,079,997 Indonesians received the first vaccine dose, 169,703,944 were administered the second dose, and 53,830,281 had taken the booster dose.


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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Raka Adji
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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