Merdeka.com – The COVID-19 pandemic also has an impact on children’s immunization schedules. Not a few parents are hesitant to take their children to the hospital or health center for immunization for fear of contracting a virus that has infected millions of people around the world.
Immunization is an important health service to protect vulnerable people from Immunization Preventable Diseases (PD3I). By providing immunizations in a timely manner, these people and the community can remain protected and the likelihood of a PD3I outbreak is reduced.
Prof. Dr. dr. Soedjatmiko, SpA (K), Msi Pediatrician / ITAGI stated that all countries recognize that immunization is safe and useful, to prevent serious illness, disability and death.
“Therefore, countries are trying to provide free vaccines to their people, so that infants and young adults avoid illness and death,” he said in a Productive Dialogue with the theme of Important Immunization in the Middle of a Pandemic, held by KPCPEN and broadcast on FMB9ID_IKP, Thursday ( 22/4).
Diseases such as diphtheria, measles, pneumonia, still exist and the transmission needs to be suppressed. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, many babies were threatened by the disease, while during the COVID-19 pandemic it seemed as if the disease had diminished.
“But in fact, if vaccination is not carried out completely, especially for babies born since 2020, there could potentially be a new outbreak besides COVID-19,” explained Prof. Soedjatmiko further.
According to Rizky Ika Safitri, Communication for Development Specialist UNICEF, Indonesia has conducted a survey at the beginning of the pandemic with the Ministry of Health.
“There are more than 5000 posyandu and puskesmas that have admitted to experiencing disruption such as for example some routine immunization services have stopped, parents are also worried about bringing their children to be immunized because during the COVID-19 pandemic like this,” he explained.
For this reason, the government, through the Ministry of Health, has issued guidelines on immunization services at puskesmas and posyandu. There are four important points, “You have to keep your distance, separate between COVID-19 patients and not, the schedule is arranged so that they don’t crowd, and it is emphasized to maintain the 3M protocol for all health workers and patients at the puskesmas and posyandu,” said Rizky. .
World immunization week which is held every fourth week of April is a momentum to remind all parties, both the government and the public, about the importance of immunization to prevent morbidity, disability, and death from dangerous diseases that can actually be prevented.
“Our health workers also need to be intensive to remind the public to complete their routine immunizations. If the number is still limited, we can help with the information through cadres, PKK women, even through social media, “suggested Prof. Soedjatmiko. [ded]
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