Attacked By Hoax Information, Achievement Of Immunization Targets In The Riau Archipelago

Head of the Riau Islands Health Office, Muhamad Bisri/Photo: Antara

TANJUNGPINANG - The Riau Islands Provincial Health Office stated that hoax information hampered the achievement of complete basic immunization in the region.

Head of the Riau Islands Health Office, Muhamad Bisri, in Tanjungpinang, Thursday, May 19, said that quite a lot of parents were affected by hoax information related to the impact of immunization.

False information that is widely spread through social media such as immunizations causes disabled babies and children to die.

Other hoax information is that babies or children are infected with COVID-19 after immunization.

He emphasized that the information cannot be accounted for so do not be influenced. The immunization program is implemented nationally by the government to protect the nation's next generation.

"It is impossible for the government to do things that are detrimental to the nation's children. On the contrary, the state is trying to maintain the health of the nation's children", he said, quoted by Antara.

Bisri revealed that the complete basic immunization achievement in the region had only reached 20 percent of the target of 600 thousand people. The relatively low immunization achievement in this region is also due to restrictions on social activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Conditions have now returned to normal. We are targeting 80 percent this year", he said.

According to him, Posyandu (Family Planning Service Post) and health centers are the front lines in improving the health of the nation's children. Posyandu and Puskesmas (public health center) will move faster to encourage residents to complete basic immunizations.

"We will synergize with the district and city health offices to encourage Posyandu and health centers to increase the number of children to receive immunizations", he said.

Immunizations are given to infants aged 9 months-15 years. Type of immunization given BCG Polio 1 to prevent transmission of Tuberculosis and Polio, and

DPT-HB-Hib 1 Polio 2, to prevent polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, Hepatitis B, Meningitis, and Pneumonia.

"There are also immunizations for DPT-HB-Hib 2 Polio 3, DPT-HB-Hib 3 Polio 4, and measles immunization", he said.