Tanoto Foundation and UNICEF Remind Parents of the Importance of Vaccines for Children All

KOMPAS.com – Vaccination for children is one of the greatest advances in global health and development. This innovation can reduce the risk of children being exposed to various dangerous disease which caused death.

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that giving vaccines for children to adults is proven to reduce the burden on society due to infectious disease infections.

In addition, vaccines can also support the achievement of optimal child development.

The rapid development of technology is certainly very helpful parent access information about vaccines for children. However, parents need to be careful with the amount of misinformation circulating on social media (social media) and the internet.

One of the disinformation that often appears is about immunization children from an early age.

Departing from that, Tanoto Foundation bersama United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) East Asia and Pacific share information about the importance of vaccines for children through live chat on the UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Facebook, Thursday (28/4/2022).

This event was held at the same time to commemorate Hari Immunization World 2022.

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UNICEF Regional Immunization Specialist, Khin Devi Aung said, over the past five years, achievements child immunization is quite high.

However, in the 2020-2021 period, 2.4 million of the 27.4 million infants in the East Asia and Pacific region missed the recommended three doses of the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine. This happened because of the pandemic Covid-19 and uncertain world situation.

“From 2020 to 2021 the world is not safe. Children do not get routine immunizations. Especially those who are in conflict areas such as Syria. They need the vaccine, but they can’t get it,” Khin Devi said live chatThursday (28/4/2022).

Data from the Indonesian Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) in 2021 states that the level of vaccination children decreased to 79.6 percent compared to 84.2 percent in 2020.

Khin Devi continued, his party together with all governments are trying to ensure that children who miss vaccines for various reasons can immediately get their rights back.

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“Indonesia will start a campaign in May 2022 about the importance of children getting vaccines. Of course, parents and the government don’t want their children to get dangerously sick because they don’t get the vaccine,” Khin Devi said.

“So, please go to the nearest health center and start getting vaccines for children,” added Khin Devi.

Meanwhile, Public Health Supervisor of the Tonga Ministry of Health, Sister Afu Tei said, she always emphasized the importance of vaccines for children while working in the health sector.

Because, he said, vaccines are a savior of children from various kinds of dangerous diseases that have the potential to cause chronic diseases in children.

He even said health workers would go to children who should have gone to health services to get vaccines, but didn’t. This will be done if there is a health service report that informs it.

“It has been emphasized long ago that children must get vaccinated and not to be vaccinated. Because vaccines really save children from chronic diseases,” explained Afu Tei.

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Pandemic affects children’s vaccinations

Senior Early Childhood Education and Development (ECED) Specialist Tanoto Foundation Fitriana Herarti said the decline in child vaccinations during the pandemic occurred because parents were afraid that their children would catch Covid-19 when bringing their children to vaccination services.

Moreover, during the peak period of the Covid-19 pandemic, health services in the community were indeed closed to minimize the transmission of Covid-19.

Fitri continued, parents have an important role to ensure their children get the vaccine. Because vaccines are the best way to protect children from various possible infectious diseases and are very efficient from an economic point of view.

“Instead of parents having to experience various difficulties in caring for their children when exposed to dangerous diseases,” he continued.

Fitriana explained that in Indonesia, the government has initiated the availability of vaccines in basic social services in the community, namely the Integrated Service Post (Post Integrated Service).Integrated Healthcare Center)

Through the Posyandu service, children can get a variety of vaccines according to the needs and age of the child.

Not only that, Fitriana said, the government also provides maternal and child health books or often referred to as the Pink Book.

This book is a medium for documenting as well as a guide to children’s growth and development. This book is usually brought by parents when consulting a hospital or Integrated Healthcare Center.

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In the book, there will be information on weight, height, consultation on child nutrition, what vaccinations each child should get, and developmental achievements in each age group.

“So parents can find out all the information on their child’s development in the book and know what vaccines the child should get at what age,” Fitriana said.

He continued, parents play a key role in determining the future of their children. The reason is, early childhood cannot claim their right to optimal growth and development.

“All that the key is parents. Parentcaregivers, or people around the child who must meet the child’s needs,” Fitriana said.

“We and the government will also continue to campaign about the importance of vaccinating children so that they can develop optimally,” he explained.

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Fitriana also advised parents who were late in giving vaccines for their children not to worry.

They can come to the vaccine provider service and convey the situation regarding delays or other things and consult the next steps that must be taken.

“Because vaccines for children are always available and can be given following the directions of health workers,” Fitriana said.

He stated that education about the importance of vaccines does not only come from health services, but also from other services for early childhood.

“For example, information about vaccines can be obtained in parenting classes organized by the government or development partners,” he said

Related to this, Fitriana gave an example of the Tanoto Foundation Parenting class module which has discussed maintaining the health of early childhood, including the importance of vaccines for them.

At the end of the event, Fitriana asked parents to immediately take their children to the Posyandu, the nearest hospital or health service for vaccination.

“Vaccinate immediately, before it’s too late. Giving vaccines is part of fulfilling children’s rights. They also need holistic services according to the framework of care from WHO and UNICEF,” Fitriana said.

The framework of care in question includes health, nutrition, responsive care, early stimulation and education, as well as living in a safe and protective environment.

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