Want to go home for Eid? Make sure your child's immunization is complete two weeks before

JAKARTA - Immunization is one of the most effective steps to protect children from various infectious diseases, especially when mobility increases such as before Lebaran homecoming.

Long journeys, crowds on public transportation, and changes in weather can increase the risk of disease transmission. Therefore, ensuring that children's vaccination status is complete before traveling is an important thing for parents to consider.

Children's specialist consultant respirologist, Nastiti Kaswandani, Sp.A(K), reminded that immunization should be carried out at least two weeks before departure. According to him, the body needs time to form immunity after the vaccine is given.

"To get protection during the journey, the vaccine needs enough time to create immunity," said Dr. Nastiti as quoted by ANTARA.

He added, "At least 14 days, yes, most vaccines take 14 days or two weeks to induce immunity."

In addition to the time it takes for antibodies to form, parents also need to consider the possibility of post-immunization events, such as mild fever or pain in the injection area.

"So, don't want to go tomorrow, only vaccinated today, then later you won't get comfort but instead you can get fever, or for example pain at the injection site, and you won't get immunity because the time is not enough to cause immunity," he explained.

To anticipate this condition, he advised parents to prepare fever-reducing medicine during the trip as a precaution.

Furthermore, dr. Nastiti emphasized the importance of ensuring that children have received vaccines that can prevent diseases such as influenza, respiratory tract infections due to pneumococcus, measles, and COVID-19 before traveling long distances. He also reminded the importance of protection against hepatitis A and hepatitis B for children who have not received them.

According to him, ideally every child has completed basic immunizations according to the recommendations of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, including hepatitis B vaccine, BCG, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, and measles and rubella.

"If we participate in the government program, it should have been fulfilled," he said.

With proper immunization planning, traveling home with children can also be safer and more comfortable.