COVID-19 Vaccination for Children Commences on 1 July

INDUSTRY.co.id - Ministry of Health has announced that it commences COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 12-17 today, 1 July 2021, through Circular Number HK.02.02/I/1727/2021 on Vaccination Phase 3 for Vulnerable People, the General Public, and Children in the 12-17 Age Group.

The decision was made following an increase in COVID-19 cases in children. Data from the Ministry shows that as of 29 June 2021, the number of COVID-19 cases among children in the 0-18 age group has constituted 260,000 cases including 108,000 cases among children aged 12-17 from the total of two million confirmed cases nationwide.

It has also reported that the number of fatalities due to COVID-19 cases among children aged 0-18 has reached 600 cases.

In addition, by considering recommendation from the Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI) and approval from the Indonesian Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) on the use of COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 12 and above, it was decided to inject COVID-19 vaccine to children in the 12-17 age group.

Therefore, under the Circular, hospitals and health facilities in provinces, regencies, and cities are advised to speed up vaccination phase 3 to all vulnerable people, those aged 18 and above, and children in the 12-17 age group.

Regional governments are also ordered to fully vaccinate target group of vaccination phase 1 and 2. COVID-19 vaccination for children can be administered at health facilities or schools/Islamic schools/Islamic boarding schools under coordination with education authorities and Ministry of Religious Affairs’ local offices for the smooth implementation of data collection and monitoring.

Children will pass through health screening, injection, and observation with the same mechanism as applied to adults.

They must bring their family card on them or other documents that include their registered family number and must register in Primary Care (Pcare) application developed by the Healthcare and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan).

For the record, the children will be administered a 0.5-ml dose of Sinovac vaccine twice in at least 28 days interval.