Nationally, we have given immunization to 26.5 million children, or equal to 72.7 percent of the targetJakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Health stated that the coverage of measles-rubella immunization, held under the National Children Immunization Month (BIAN) 2022 Program nationally, had reached 72.7 percent.
"Nationally, we have given immunization to 26.5 million children, or equal to 72.7 percent of the target," Acting Director of Immunization Management of the ministry Prima Yosephine stated at a media briefing followed online on Friday.
Yosephine said under the BIAN program, the ministry is targeting to reach 95-percent coverage for measles-rubella immunization. The coverage in Java and Bali Islands has reached 97.90 percent, while outside Java and Bali, the coverage has only reached 63.90 percent.
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Provinces that have reached the target of 95-percent coverage are South Sulawesi, East Java, Jakarta, Banten, Central Java, and West Java.
As for other immunizations, nationally, the coverage of oral polio vaccine (OPV) immunization stood at 54.2 percent, inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) immunization reached 45.8 percent, and DPT-HB-Hib (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B, pneumonia, and meningitis) immunization reached 61 percent.
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According to Yosephine, the coverage must be increased since so far, provinces outside Java and Bali Islands that have reached the target for OPV immunization are only Lampung, South Sumatra, and Riau Islands. Meanwhile, in Java and Bali islands, only Jakarta still has a low coverage of OPV immunization.
"For IPV, only Lampung (the province) outside Java-Bali has surpassed the 80-percent (coverage). In Java-Bali, only Jakarta has not reached the target," she stated.
To this end, she appealed to all parents to immediately bring their children below five years of age and those who have not completed their immunizations or do not know their immunization status, to access immunization services at the nearest health facility.
Immunizations are deemed crucial to be accelerated since the recent polio outbreak in Pidie, Aceh, poses threats to children.
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Translator: Hreeloita Dharma, Raka Adji
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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