Don't Worry, Very Few AEFI Reports For Child Vaccination

President Joko Widodo inspects children's vaccinations at the Cideng Elementary School Complex, Gambir, Jakarta, on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 (Photo: BPMI Setpres/Kris)

JAKARTA - Head of the National Commission for Post-Immunization Adverse Events (Komnas KIPI) Prof. Hindra Irawan Satari said the symptoms of post-immunization co-occurrence (KIPI) from COVID-19 vaccination in children aged 6 to 11 years tended to be lower than adults.

Avoid explained that there was only 1 case of serious side effects after vaccination in children aged 6-11 years.

Meanwhile, serious AEFIs at the age of 31-45 years, the number of AEFI reports was 122 cases, at the age of 18-30 years 97 cases, aged over 59 years 77 cases, aged 46-59 years 68 cases, and aged 12-17 years there were 19 cases. .

"In terms of age, the AEFI at a young age is lower than that of a productive age and the elderly. So it is not true that the AEFI in children is higher," said Hindra in a written statement, Wednesday, January 26.

With reports of low serious AEFIs, Hindra believes that COVID-19 vaccination in children is declared safe.

Likewise with the results of clinical trials that have been carried out. Hindra stated that there were no serious effects from the injection of the COVID-19 vaccination. Even if there are AEFIs, they tend to be mild and easy to deal with.

"From the clinical trials of Phase 1 and 2 of the Sinovac vaccine that we have carried out on children and adolescents aged 3-17 years, it shows that the reactions experienced tend to be mild, the majority experience local pain, followed by fever and cough. There are also no reports of serious AEFIs in the group. who were vaccinated,” explained Hindra.

Meanwhile, he continued, the most dominant side effects of administering the Pfizer vaccine were redness, fatigue, headaches and chills.

Furthermore, Hindra emphasized that the emergence of various reactions that occurred after the COVID-19 vaccination was a form of the body's response to the injected vaccine. Therefore, if AEFIs appear, it is something that is natural.

"What must be considered is the degree of side effects from vaccination, because AEFI has a different reaction for each person, some reacting from mild to severe," he said.

In mild reactions, Prof. Hindra suggested that the target should rest immediately after vaccination. If a fever appears, it is recommended to immediately take the medicine according to the dose and drink enough water. If there is pain at the injection site, keep moving your hand and applying cold water.

Then, if there is a fever after 48 hours of vaccination, the child must immediately self-isolate and get tested for COVID-19. If the complaint does not decrease, you can contact the contact number of the health worker listed on the vaccination card or the nearest health facility.