For the people, parents, the 2022 BIAN can be utilized to handle missed child immunizations throughout the pandemic. Immediately come to puskesmas (public health center) to protect our children from various health problemsJakarta (ANTARA) - The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture appealed to the public to make the 2022 National Children Immunization Month (BIAN) a success to serve as the right momentum to complement basic immunization for children.
When contacted from here, Monday, Health Quality Improvement and Population Development Deputy at the Ministry Agus Suprapto explained that basic immunization is immensely beneficial to protect children from various diseases preventable through vaccination.
Polio, diphtheria, measles, rubella, and hepatitis B are some diseases that can be prevented through immunization. Hence, it is crucial to ensure that children have been protected through vaccination, specifically basic immunization, he noted.
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The 2022 BIAN is implemented with the objective of meeting the children's basic immunization target and expanding basic immunization coverage for children in the country, he affirmed.
"For the people, parents, the 2022 BIAN can be utilized to handle missed child immunizations throughout the pandemic. Immediately come to puskesmas (public health center) to protect our children from various health problems," he emphasized.
Herd immunity in accordance with the expected target can be realized through a collective movement by all members of the public to complement basic immunization for children.
Earlier, Health Ministry's spokesperson, Mohammad Syahril, noted that the COVID-19 pandemic, which plagues the world, including Indonesia, has lowered the basic immunization coverage for children.
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According to the ministry's data on its official website, around 1.7 million infants in Indonesia have not received basic immunization throughout the 2019-2021 period.
BIAN is divided into two stages, with the first being conducted in May and focused on regions outside Java Island. Meanwhile, the second stage in August will be conducted in Java-Bali.
The government seeks to expand vaccination coverage that targets infants in the age bracket of nine to 59 months against diseases, such as measles and rubella, Syahril stated.
The government also targets infants in the age group of 12 to 59 months that have not received complete immunization, such as OPV, IPV, and DPT-HB-Hib vaccines, he added.
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Translator: Wuryanti P, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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