Decreased Immunization Coverage Potentially Becomes a Pandemic Double Burden

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com The Director General of Disease Prevention and Control at the Ministry of Health, Maxi Rein Rondonuwu, said the burden of the Covid-19 pandemic could potentially be doubled due to a decrease in coverage. immunization.

Data Ministry of Health shows that complete basic immunization coverage has decreased in the last two years.

“If this lack of immunization coverage is not pursued, there will be an increase in cases which will become a double burden in the midst of a pandemic,” said Maxi through a press statement received in Jakarta, Tuesday (18/6/2022), quoted from Between.

Also read: 3 Diseases Threaten Indonesian Children, but Can Be Prevented by Immunization

The data noted that in 2020, immunization coverage was only 84 percent of the 92 percent target. Meanwhile, the coverage in 2021 will reach 84 percent of the 93 percent target.

He said the situation of decreasing immunization coverage was caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Currently, there are more than 1.7 million babies who have not received basic immunization during the 2019-2021 period.

Maxi said the impact of the decrease in coverage could be seen from the increasing number of cases of diseases that could be prevented by immunization (PD3I) and the occurrence of extraordinary events (KLB) such as measles, rubella and diphtheria in several areas.

Task Force Member Immunization The Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) Soedjatmiko said, since 2007 there has always been a threat of increasing cases of measles, rubella and diphtheria.

He said there were 25 provinces with an increase in rubella cases in 2021.

Data from the Ministry of Health also reported that there were 571 babies with cases of brain inflammation in 2012 to 2017. Symptoms that arise include fever, cough, runny nose, shortness of breath, and red spots.

Also read: Keeping the Covid-19 Pandemic Alert Level

“There were also cases of pneumonia or pneumonia from 2012 to 2017 with a total of 2,853 infants and children experiencing pneumonia due to measles,” he said.

The government is trying to catch up with the imbalance in immunization coverage by holding the 2022 National Child Immunization Month (BIAN).

BIAN consists of two immunization service activities, namely additional immunization services in the form of giving one dose of measles and rubella immunization regardless of previous immunization status, and follow-up immunization services in the form of giving one or more types of immunization to complete basic and advanced immunization status for children who have not received doses. age-appropriate vaccines.

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