"Many people have yet to understand that immunization is the best step to protect themselves and their family," he said at the 2024 World Immunization Week commemoration event in Jakarta on Sunday.
He noted that one of the factors behind the low awareness of the community is the spread of misinformation regarding the benefits and safety of immunization.
"It is time for us to boost immunization because its positive impact will not only benefit us but also the nation and the state. If our younger generations are immune, diseases will decline, thereby our children will be productive and healthy," he remarked.
Nugraha explained that the many cases of rubella, measles, and diphtheria show that Indonesia is still left behind in realizing complete immunization among its people.
Efforts to improve the community's understanding of immunization are carried out by the Ministry of Health through Immunization Week, which is a campaign to increase public education to encourage people to visit community health centers for immunization.
On the same occasion, he underscored that people's negative perception regarding routine immunization is a big problem for the world of health.
"There are many rumors and disinformation that raise concerns about the benefits and safety of immunization," he said.
To this end, he encouraged various parties, especially those engaged in the health sector, to continuously disseminate information regarding the safety and benefits of immunization.
By doing so, people can be confident again and get immunized after the sharp decline of immunization during the COVID-19 pandemic, he added.
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Translator: Astrid Faidlatul, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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