Vaccination drive targets 21.8 million children

JAKARTA (JP): The government has prepared extra supplies of anti-polio vaccine to guarantee that all of the 21.8 million under-fives in Indonesia will be immunized in the second nationwide anti-polio drive.

Minister of Health Sujudi will launch the first phase of the second round of immunization today in Serang, West Java. The second phase will be held next month.

"We have prepared 10 percent more polio vaccine, so all children will have the opportunity to be immunized," Sujudi said on Saturday.

One of the problems encountered during the first drive last year was a shortage of polio vaccine at many immunization posts because of the higher-than-expected turnout.

He expressed the hope that this year's drive, costing Rp 52,6 billion (US$22,3 million), will be more successful. "We have learned from last year's experiences," Sujudi said.

The ministry has prepared 60 million polio vaccine drops, two for each child, for the five-day campaign.

During last year's drive, also in September and October, more than 22 million children under the age of five were immunized.

"We have distributed the vaccine to all immunization posts across the country, even those in remote or difficult-to-reach regions," Sujudi said.

The military, state-owned and private companies have expressed their willingness to help distribute the vaccine to some 275,000 immunization posts set up at community health centers, hospitals, schools, bus terminals, airports, railway stations and ports.

One million people have been recruited and trained to administer the vaccine. Only 15 percent of them are medical personnel, while the rest are volunteers.

The government is determined to ensure that no baby shall be born with polio by the year 2000. (31)