Coordinating Minister Airlangga: Child Vaccination Is Good For Starting Face-to-Face Schools, Avoiding Missing Children's Socialization Skills

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto (Photo: Documentation of the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy)

JAKARTA - Public health has always been the government's priority in handling COVID-19 in Indonesia. Vaccination, which is one of the efforts to strengthen community immunity, continues to be echoed by the Government and is in line with its implementation in the field. The government has gradually vaccinated groups of health workers, the elderly, adults, pregnant women, teenagers, until now it has been extended to groups of children aged 6 to 11 years.

As of December 27 at 18.00 WIB, the total vaccination dose 1 was recorded at 157,246,796 doses or 75.50 percent of the target, while the vaccination dose 2 was recorded at 111,168,620 doses or 53.38 percent of the target.

"Alhamdulillah, now the target for the second dose of more than 40 percent has been achieved," said Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto, when he directly visited the Serviam Vaccination Center at Santa Ursula school, Jakarta, Tuesday, December 28.

“This vaccination for children is good to start and is targeted to be completed in the first quarter of next year. So with this vaccinated children are expected to start face-to-face school. Because for 2 years of online schooling, of course there are skills that are lost, especially for socialization, especially social life with their peers," said Coordinating Minister Airlangga.

For information, the Serviam Vaccination Center (SVS) was initiated by alumni of 3 schools consisting of, Santa Theresia School, Santa Ursula School, and Santa Maria School. SVS has vaccinated the elderly over 60 years, educators, religious leaders, and people with disabilities. In addition, vaccinations are also carried out to people in the age group over 50 years old from May 31, 2021, the age group over 18 years from June 9 2021, the age group over 12 years old from July 2021, and the age group 6 to 11 years since December 2021. Especially for the age group 6-11 years, the daily vaccination target is more than 350 vaccination recipients.

“The Serviam Vaccine Center has a good flow, moreover it is supported by a good IT system related to data entry. This might be a solution and replicated in other places," said Coordinating Minister Airlangga.

The existence of targeted vaccinations for children aged 6 to 11 years has increased the average daily rate of vaccination in Indonesia. A total of 2,324,644 doses have been injected into children aged 6-11 years.

"In the future, more mobile vaccination centers are needed so that all people can be vaccinated immediately," concluded Coordinating Minister Airlangga.