Ministry Of Health: Children Can Receive COVID-19 Vaccine, Target Increases To 208 Million People

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JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Vaccine from the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) Siti Nadia Tarmizi said the COVID-19 vaccination target was now increasing. The addition occurs because children and adolescents are currently allowed to receive vaccine injections.

This is done by the government as an effort to provide protection for children and adolescents in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Our target for achieving herd immunity has increased from the previous 181.5 million targets to 208 million targets because it is allowed to vaccinate children and adolescents aged 12-17 years," Nadia said in a written statement quoted on Friday, July 23.

He said the implementation of COVID-19 vaccination for children and adolescents would be carried out in health facilities and schools.

"We are working with schools to provide vaccination services. The current distribution of vaccines also includes the allocation of vaccinations for our youth," said Nadia.

Furthermore, he advised parents to always take care of their children by implementing health protocols. In addition, he asked children and teenagers not to be invited or allowed to travel outside the house.

"Children should not be exposed to the risk of transmitting COVID-19, such as being taken for a trip, invited to eat outside the home. We know that the risk of transmission is very large when they are active outside the home," he stressed. Previously, the Ministry of Health had issued Circular Letter Number HK.02.02 /1/1727/2021 concerning Phase 3 Vaccination for Vulnerable Communities and Other General Publics and Implementation of COVID-19 Vaccination for Children 12-17 Years Old.

In the circular, the implementation of vaccination for children 12-17 years old can be carried out in health service facilities or in schools/madrasah/pesantren, in coordination with the Education Office and the local MoRA regional office/office to facilitate data collection and monitoring of implementation.

The mechanism of screening, implementation, and observation in children is the same as for vaccination at the age of 18 years.

Vaccination participants must bring a family card or other document that includes the child's NIK. Then, the records in the PCare application for vaccination were entered in the adolescent group.

Vaccination in children using Sinovac vaccine with a dose of 0.5 ml twice with a distance or interval of at least 28 days. The Ministry of Health targets that 32.6 million children 12-17 years old are vaccinated.