Ombudsman Clarifies About Child Vaccine Rejection Letter

Vaccine Illustration/Photo: Antara

The Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia provided clarification regarding the circulation of the Ombudsman's examination letter regarding child vaccines that were widely circulated in the community.

RI Ombudsman member Indraza Marzuki Rais said that in the last two weeks, a letter of rejection of vaccination services for children was widely circulated, one of which attached a request for clarification from the Indonesian Ombudsman to the Secretary General of the Ministry of Health.

The letter was allegedly written by the parents or guardians of school students as a form of statement that the person concerned refused to carry out vaccinations for his children as well as rejection of coercion and other forms of intimidation that might occur.

It was later discovered that this rejection letter became a polemic among parents or guardians not only in Jakarta, but also in various regions.

Indraza Marzuki Rais said that one of the tasks of the Indonesian Ombudsman is to receive and follow up on reports or complaints from the public regarding the implementation of public services.

In this regard, the Ombudsman has received public reports regarding requests for information regarding vaccinations from the Ministry of Health. As a follow-up, the Ombudsman requested a written explanation from the Secretary General of the Ministry of Health regarding the mechanism for requesting information to the Ministry of Health's Information Management and Documentation Officer (PPID).

Then, the Ombudsman also asked for an explanation of the progress of the follow-up to the complainant's complaint that had been submitted through various complaint channels from the Ministry of Health.

Indraza explained that the letter requesting clarification to the Secretary General of the Ministry of Health is a form of the report inspection process, so that access is limited to the parties, namely the reporting party, the RI Ombudsman and the reported party.

"The Ombudsman regrets that there are parties who disseminate the letter requesting clarification and use it for other purposes other than the internal examination process at the Indonesian Ombudsman," he said, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, January 18.

In addition to following up on reports of public complaints, the Ombudsman also actively supervises the implementation of vaccinations in various regions in terms of availability, distribution and implementation of vaccinations.

"The Ombudsman supports the government's efforts to break the chain of spread of COVID-19, one of which is by accelerating the implementation of vaccinations, as well as supervising the adequacy of the availability and distribution of vaccines for most Indonesians in order to achieve communal immunity (herd immunity) as one of the efforts to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. , said Indra.

Indraza hopes that in the future, the implementation of vaccination can be carried out in an orderly and transparent manner and full of caution by mitigating any risks that may occur.

And, he continued, more massive and persuasive socialization and education efforts are needed so that people can easily understand the benefits and safety of vaccination for the health of Indonesian people in general.