"Health is very fundamental," Head of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Immunization at the Jakarta Health Office Ngabila Salama stated here, Wednesday.
Salama said that this translated to the fact that complete routine immunization is necessary, and it does not stop with infants, but also continues until children reach the primary school age.
The public can access the nearest health facilities, including Public Health Centers (Puskesmas) across Jakarta, to complete the immunization, she remarked.
Complete immunization aims to prevent Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus (DPT), measles and rubella, Hepatitis B, tuberculosis, polio, and pneumonia diseases.
The government intensifies immunization, including through the School Children Immunization Month (BIAS) Program held in August and November every year.
"We are also combing through first, second, fifth, and sixth grade primary school students. All of the vaccine brands are safe, healthy, beneficial, have good quality, and are free of charge," she remarked.
First grade primary school students received two simultaneous immunization: tetanus (DT) and measles rubella (MR).
Second grade primary school students received tetanus (TD) immunization, while fifth grade girl students received human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine immunization and TD immunization for all children.
Finally, sixth graders' immunization comprised only HPV for girls to prevent cervical cancer.
The provincial government has initiated large-scale vaccination at various primary schools, including the Bendungan Hilir 5 State Primary School in which 100 students from 10 educational institutions participated.
The Jakarta Health Office recorded that immunization for rubella and measles during the National Child Immunization Month (BIAN) was given to 610 thousand children, or around 85 percent of the targeted 715,786 children.
For the Java-Bali scale, Jakarta was ranked first in terms of rubella-measles immunization followed by East Jakarta.
Translator: Dewa Ketut S W, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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