“Multiple Immunizations Recommended to Combat Decline due to COVID-19 Pandemic, says Indonesian Pediatrician Association”

Liputan6.com, Jakarta – Achievement of child immunization has been hampered in the last three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the background for several parties recommending multiple immunizations.

According to Hartono Gunardi, Chairman of the Immunization Task Force for the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI), multiple immunizations are immunizations that are given more than one injection during the same visit.

“Double immunization is giving immunization injections with two or more injections. Can be on one right thigh, on one left thigh. How about three injections? Yes, on the right thigh, two on the left thigh, one with a distance of 2.5 cm between injections,” said Hartono after the 2023 World Immunization Week discussion with GSK Indonesia in Jakarta, Monday, May 8, 2023.

He added, double immunization has been carried out in various countries. In fact, in the United States the double injection is not just two but five injections on the same day.

A one-time injection often triggers post-immunization adverse events (AEFIs) in children. This may develop as a fever within 24 to 48 hours.

So, does double injection make the risk of AEFIs even higher?

Answering this question, Hartono said that research showed that his AEFI risk had not changed.

“From research in Indonesia and abroad, AEFI has not increased. Not statistically different, some increased slightly, some decreased slightly. So on average when compared, tested scientifically, it doesn’t increase (the AEFI).”