The Covid-19 pandemic has also triggered a delay in polio vaccination to the public.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — The Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) Immunization Task Force Prof. Hindra Irawan Satari said the disease polio still lurking in Indonesia.
“Indonesia is still vulnerable. This means that our neighboring countries have outbreaks, such as Malaysia which borders Indonesia. There is also Papua. We must be careful not to have imported cases,” said Hindra, Monday (25/10).
He said Indonesia is one of the countries that has successfully handled polio, but the Covid-19 pandemic has also triggered a delay in vaccination to the public. “But because of Covid-19, it’s actually covered polio vaccination decrease. It must be pursued. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends injections polio vaccine twice, “he said.
In addition to the Covid-19 pandemic, the polio vaccine producer in Indonesia, namely PT Bio Farma, is also facing administrative problems in fulfilling domestic vaccines. “We have a vaccine, but the administrative procurement process takes time and there are conditions,” he said.
One of the requirements set by WHO is 90 percent coverage of polio vaccine in people who live in a radius of 100 kilometers from PT Bio Farma. “The vaccine dose is there, but can there must be money and procedures. Must be ready for local orders to fulfill a 100 kilometer radius of polio vaccination coverage. Theoretically it should be smooth,” he said.
Hindra added that delaying polio vaccination risks reducing the protection of the community so that they are more susceptible to infection. However, Hindra ensured that polio in the world only left cases in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
“Now it’s just the government’s consistency to keep polio out of Indonesia,” he said.
source: Between
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