Polio immunization begins on Sept. 12

Polio immunization begins on Sept. 12

JAKARTA: A total of 20.8 million babies in Indonesia and children under the age of five are scheduled to participate in a nationwide Immunization Week (PIN) which will be held across the nation from Sept. 12 through to Oct. 9 2002.

"The participating babies and infants will be immunized free of charge. Some 284,000 immunization posts across the nation will be established for this special immunization week," Minister of Health Achmad Suyudi said in Banda Aceh, capital of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, on Tuesday.

"I urge all parents to bring their babies and infants for immunization during the stated week."

Achmad added that the government would continue to immunize the children across the nation to protect them from the dreaded disease, polio.

Initial immunization weeks were held in 1995, 1996 and 2000. -- JP