Govt says vaccines do not harm children

JAKARTA: Post-immunization deaths of five toddlers and hospitalization of seven others had nothing to do with the vaccines, a health ministry investigation team has announced.

"After investigating 18 cases, we have come to a conclusion that the children had been sick (before vaccination) and it was neither polio vaccination nor other vaccines that caused their illness," National Committee for Post-immunization Incidence head Sri Rezeki said in a statement on Monday.

She was responding to parents and the Legal Aid Institute for Health (LBH Kesehatan) who reported cases of post-immunization fatalities to the police.

The committee recommended that the ministry continue its second round of free polio immunizations scheduled for June 28. -- JP