Immunization program for pupils launched

Immunization program for pupils launched

JAKARTA (JP): Following its success in immunizing children
under five, Indonesia began Friday the initial phase of a
nationwide immunization program against diphtheria and tetanus
for elementary schoolchildren.

Initiated jointly by the ministries of health, education and
culture, religious affairs and home affairs, the campaign will
target some 26 million primary schoolchildren throughout
Indonesia over a two-year period.

The program was launched at state-run elementary school SDN
010 Pondok Kelapa, Duren Sawit, East Jakarta. In his address,
Minister of Health Sujudi said the vaccination would protect
children from diphtheria and tetanus for 15 years and 25 years
respectively.

Almost 80 percent of Indonesian children received basic
diphtheria and tetanus toxoid immunization during infancy.
However, they should receive boosters.

Diphtheria infects children under the age of 15, causing
breathing difficulties that sometimes lead to death, while
tetanus causes spasms and lockjaw and also often results in
death.

Vaccinations, scheduled to be held in November each year, may
only be administered by registered physicians and medical
assistants.

This year, some 173,000 public as well as Islamic elementary
schools in Jakarta and Bogor, West Java, will participate in the
campaign.

The diphtheria vaccine will be given to first grade pupils and
tetanus toxoid to first to third grade pupils.

Attending the launching ceremony were Minister of Education
and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro and Minister of Religious
Affairs Tarmizi Taher.

Sujudi gave the first vaccination to seven-and-a-half-year-old
Taufiq Ilman from SDN 010.

"It bit me a little," said Taufiq.

Tarmizi, who is also a physician, then injected Alvin
Paricaga, six, from private elementary school SD Strada
Dipamarga, Duren Sawit, East Jakarta.

Also present at the ceremony were representatives of World
Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund, and
the director of state-owned PT Biofarma that provides the
vaccines. (09)