JAKARTA – Head of the Adult Immunization Task Force of the Indonesian Association of Internal Medicine Specialists (PAPDI), Prof. DR. Dr. Samsuridjal Djauzi, SpPD, K-AI, FACP said, people aged 60 years and over are currently included in the priority of getting the influenza vaccine.
This recommendation is five years earlier than the recommended age for the World Health Organization (WHO) to get an influenza vaccine, which is at the age of 65 years.
“WHO recommends (influenza vaccine) 65 years, but in Indonesia, our geriatric association and the immunization task force recommend that it is 60 years old,” he said in a virtual press conference on World Flu Day: “The Importance of Flu Vaccination during the Covid-19 Pandemic”, Friday (19/11).
Prof. Samsuridjal said the reason was because at the age of 60, the immune system had decreased a lot. In those who are sick, immunity may not occur so that the possibility of complications such as pneumonia, heart disease and stroke becomes great.
“So the elderly are very priority (getting the influenza vaccine),” he said.
In addition, some of the elderly aged 60 years are known to already have many co-morbidities such as diabetes and hypertension.
On the other hand, WHO also includes pregnant women and children aged months to 5 years, then those under the age of 60 years with diabetes, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic heart disease and HIV.
