Vaccination For Children Age 6-11 In Surabaya Starts Tomorrow

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SURABAYA - The first dose of COVID-19 vaccination specifically for elementary school (SD) children aged 6 to 11 years, will begin to be held at every health center in Surabaya City, East Java, on December 15.

Head of Public Relations of the Surabaya City Government, Febriadhitya Prajatara, said that the vaccination program for ages 6-11 is targeting 227 thousand children, targeting 126 elementary-level schools.

"The implementation of the vaccination has also obtained approval from the parents or guardians of the students. So there is a consent form that must be filled out by parents," he said.

According to him, the implementation of this vaccine is also directly coordinated by the school, so the school and health workers from the health center have already arranged technically to prevent crowds.

Febri said that the type of vaccine used in the implementation of the first dose of vaccination for children aged 6-11 years was the Sinovac type vaccine. The vaccination implementation will start at 08.00 WIB by each puskesmas and is responsible for two schools located in the area.

"Our note, for parents who want to immunize (diphtheria and tetanus) for their children, please postpone it first. So they can take part in the COVID-19 vaccination," he said.

Technically, Febri explained that as many as 1,000 doses of vaccine per day will be intended for children aged 6-11 years. Later, before receiving the first dose of vaccination, children will receive a medical history examination first.

"This vaccine is administered every day. If one puskesmas has 1,000 doses per day, it means that one school gets 500 doses," he said.

Febri added that the implementation of vaccination for children aged 6-11 years had been socialized by the school, especially schools that had received an assessment from the COVID-19 task force.

"Of course it has been conveyed by the homeroom teacher. So schools that have implemented PTM (face-to-face meetings) will take precedence first," he said.

Therefore, Febri hopes that the implementation of vaccination for children aged 6-11 years can take place according to the target of the Surabaya City Health Office (Dinkes), namely the first dose of vaccine is targeted to be completed in the next two weeks.

"For the second dose of vaccine, it is adjusted to the rules for implementing the vaccine. Hopefully, it can be in accordance with the target, while waiting for the 4 ministerial decree, to be able to implement the PTM 100 percent," he said.