TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Director of the Directorate of Surveillance and Quarantine Health, Ministry of Health, Vensya Sitohang said that Indonesia is actually free from polio. However, the government is reluctant to be careless, because there are actually 23 provinces in Indonesia that are at high risk of polio transmission. “Those at high risk are 23 provinces or 298 districts / cities in Indonesia,” he said in a press conference commemorating World Polio Day, Saturday, October 24, 2020. polio worldwide is commemorated every 24 October.
There are several factors in several locations in Indonesia, the range of spreading the polio virus. The first is related to its geographic location. Several areas of Indonesia, especially North Kalimantan, are bordered by Sabah, Malaysia. “There were several cases of polio in Sabah, and we know that our community is mobilizing. So we continue to be vigilant,” said Vensya.
Another reason is the implementation of vaccines. According to Vensya, there are several regions in Indonesia where the percentage of vaccines is still incomplete. This condition was coupled with the problem of the COVID-19 pandemic which had hampered the implementation of vaccines to various children. In addition, more and more parents are reluctant to go to doctors to give their children the polio vaccine because of COVID-19. The increasing number of children who are not vaccinated. “At the beginning of the pandemic in March to May, immunization coverage fell once. Now there is an improvement in May to August. This must work so that the target can be achieved,” said Vensya.
Data from the Ministry of Health shows that the national coverage of polio vaccine has only reached 47.1 percent of the target of 63.3 percent in August 2020. To be free from the polio outbreak, Vensya said that polio immunization coverage must be evenly distributed and reach a minimum of 95 percent. “95 percent should be able to create group immunity and also strengthen environmental polio surveillance,” said Vensya.
Vensya said that the Ministry of Health is currently expanding the coverage of polio vaccines throughout Indonesia. The government is also gradually starting to increase the dosage of polio vaccine to increase the effectiveness of the vaccine and reduce side effects. “Everything must run routinely. We have provided technical guidance and a circular that immunization must continue during a pandemic with health protocols,” said Vensya.
Vensya also invited parents to report cases of paralyzed paralysis in children less than 15 years of age so that officers can track down the virus. Symptoms of paralysis caused by the polio virus include weakness or wilting and occur suddenly within 1-14 days.
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