REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, YOGYAKARTA — The increase in measles immunization in the city of Yogyakarta is still constrained by some parents or groups who are reluctant to immunize their children. In fact, of the measles cases found in 2022, it was a child who had not been immunized.
“There are still those who think that the (measles) vaccine is haram, there are still halal and haram factors, there are those who still think it’s not necessary, just use the traditional one. There are still certain groups that refuse,” said the Head of Disease Control and Prevention, Data Management. and Health Information Systems, Yogyakarta City Health Office, Lana Unwanah to Republic.
Lana said, in 2022 there was an increase in measles cases in the city of Yogyakarta. It noted that there were nine cases of measles, some of which were even found to have an epidemiological relationship. “Two cases (which have an epidemiological relationship) we found in August, it turned out that they had not been immunized against measles, rubella or MR,” he said.
For this reason, Lana asked parents to fulfill the measles immunization for their children. This is to protect children from measles, bearing in mind that there has been an increase in cases in the city of Yogyakarta even though they were not declared as extraordinary events (KLB).
“We appeal to all parents who have babies, toddlers, when it’s time for immunization, immunization,” he explained. He stressed that parents should not worry about post-immunization follow-up events (AEFI) after their children are immunized.
The AEFIs that occurred, said Lana, were normal after the child received the measles vaccine. “For example, after an immunization, the child has a fever, which is a normal reaction. Because the benefits we get with a child being vaccinated are greater, compared to AEFI, which is a temporary reaction that occurs after immunization,” added Lana.
It was stated, the symptoms that occur when a child has measles are experiencing heat, fever, red eyes, cough and runny nose, to a rash or redness of the skin. The worrying thing about this achievement, he said, could be complications.
Especially in children whose bodies are not in a fit condition. “(Complications) Could be inflammation of the ear, pneumonia, even inflammation of the brain,” he said.
