Deputy Health Minister suggests Aceh immunisation on public holidays to boost coverage

Banda Aceh (ANTARA) - Deputy Health Minister Dante Saksono has suggested that immunisation programs in Aceh be conducted on holidays as one solution to boost coverage, which remains relatively low in the land of the Rencong. “We will modify how immunisation is carried out, for example on Saturdays or holidays,” said Dante Saksono in Banda Aceh on Friday. The statement was delivered at a press briefing after reviewing immunisation activities at Posyandu Panteriek and Puskesmas Batoh, Banda Aceh City. He said his visit to Aceh was because the immunisation coverage in the region is still quite low, around 33 percent. This condition is due to several obstacles faced. “In Aceh, decisions are made by the father; the father works. Sometimes the decision-maker is not present, so the child is not immunised. So we will modify it on holidays,” he said. Another problem is the low immunisation rate in Aceh due to the community’s erroneous beliefs. For example, that a child will fall ill with fever after vaccination. In fact, that fever is not dangerous. The temperature does rise slightly because the child’s antibodies or immunity are being formed, which is good and not harmful. “The developing immune system requires mechanisms and metabolism that must cause the temperature to rise first, and that is not dangerous. These are some of the obstacles that are a problem in Aceh,” he said. He noted that initially immunisation coverage in Aceh was high, but after the COVID-19 pandemic the issue of vaccination turned negative, causing the immunisation rate to fall again. “Well, this is our shared PR, with the media, in collaboration with us to build an ecosystem of truthful and constructive information for the public that immunisation is necessary,” said Dante Saksono.