Vaccination drive targets 21.8 million children

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)