Preventing Polio Outbreaks, 220 Toddlers In Garut Become Immunization Targets

In order to prevent the Polio outbreak, the Health Office (Dinkes) of Garut Regency, West Java prepared polio immunization with a target of 220 thousand toddlers or under the age of five years. "The target of immunization of toddlers is 5 years and under, around 220 thousand," said Garut District Health Secretary Leli Yuliani, quoted by ANTARA, Sunday, April 2. He said the implementation of polio immunization for children was started in the first round, namely 3 to 11 April 2023, and the second round starts from 15 to 22 May 2023 which is targeted by all children to get polio immunization. Garut Health Office, he said, would certainly strive to succeed in the polio immunization program to provide protection for children in order to avoid polio disease or paralysis. The polio case in children in Garut, continued Leli, so far has not been found, even so that polio immunization prevention efforts must still be carried out so that children are healthy and strong. "There are no cases, we optimize vaccination and surveillance," he said. The Garut Regency Government to succeed in the polio immunization program is preparing 6 thousand posts spread across each village/kelurahan in 42 sub-districts involving sub-districts, villages, and local health centers. The West Java Provincial Government through a written broadcast is ready to carry out polio vaccinations for children aged 0-59 months simultaneously starting April 3, 2023, which is held in two stages. Head of the Disease Prevention and Control Division of the West Java Province Health Service, Rochady HS Wibawa, said that immunization must be carried out in full or within two stages in order to be completed. Vaccination will be carried out throughout Puskesmas and Posyandu as well as other designated places, among others, kindergarten schools. After a week of carrying out these activities, the team will look for toddlers who have not been covered by vaccination.

Rochady explained that polio vaccination is in the form of oral vaccines or drops so that it will not cause side effects on toddlers because so far there have been no Post-Immunization Adverse Events (AEFI). However, the vaccination was not given to children who were in a weak immune condition or were sick.