BPOM Allows Children 6-12 Years Old To Be Injected With Sinovac Vaccines

JAKARTA - The Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) has officially authorized the emergency use authorization (EUA) of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine for use in children aged 6-11 years.

"A permit for the use of the COVID-19 vaccine from the Sinovac vaccine has been issued for children 6-11 years old. This follows the previous use of 12-17 years", said Head of BPOM, Penny K. Lukito in a press conference on the BPOM RI YouTube channel, Monday, 1 November.

"So now the Sinovac vaccine can be used to vaccinate children aged 6-17 years", he added.

Penny said the issuance of the UAE was an exciting thing considering that currently, many schools had implemented face-to-face learning (PTM) in schools. He also said vaccinating children was urgent and needed to be done immediately.

"This is encouraging news. Because we firmly believe that childhood vaccination is an urgent matter now, especially since face-to-face learning and teaching has begun", said Penny.

Meanwhile, for permission to use the COVID-19 vaccine for children under the age of 6 years, BPOM is still working on it because it requires extreme caution. Even so, Penny hopes that soon the provision of vaccines for this age group can be implemented.

"Under the age of 6, we are still trying to get more complete data. Because of course, early childhood requires more caution for those of us who give permission and I think the age segment of children is very important", he said.

Previously reported, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy, said the COVID-19 vaccine would begin to be given to children aged 6-11 years after the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) gave permission.

After the permit is issued, the vaccine will be given to children in areas where the elderly vaccination rate is already high.

"Vaccination for children will be carried out after obtaining a permit and implemented at an early stage in areas that have high vaccination rates for the elderly", said Muhadjir in a PPKM press conference broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat YouTube, Monday, November 1.

While waiting for permission, the government is currently focusing on providing the COVID-19 vaccine quickly to the public, especially the elderly. They need to be vaccinated immediately because they belong to a vulnerable group.

"Implementation of vaccinations for the elderly remains focused", he said.