President Jokowi Inspects First Vaccination Drive for Children
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Wednesday (12/15) inspected the COVID-19 vaccination drive for children aged 6-11 years at state elementary school SDN Cideng complex, Gambir, Jakarta.
“This morning I came to witness the start of vaccination drive for children aged 6-11 years. There are approximately 26.5 million children in all over Indonesia and specifically 1.2 million children in Jakarta who must be vaccinated.” President Jokowi said after the inspection.
The President expressed appreciation for the start of children vaccination drive and called for similar activities to be carried out in other provinces. He also expressed hope that the children who have been vaccinated can be protected from COVID-19 infection, both the old and new strains.
“Everything must be adjusted since our children must also get vaccinated for other diseases, thus [I hope] Ministry of Health and regional Health Office can make the regulations and we hope we can finish everything as soon as possible,” President Jokowi remarked.
On that occasion, at least 200 elementary school students aged 6-11 years received Sinovac vaccine, including students from SDN Cideng 04 (44 students), SDN Cideng 13 (59 students), SDN Cideng 09 (44 students), and SDN Cideng 10 (53 students).
The vaccination drive for children was carried out based on recommendations from the Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization/ITAGI through Letter Number 166/ITAGI/Adm/XII/2021 dated December 9, 2021 on the Study of COVID-19 vaccination in children aged 6-11 years.
At the same time, Minister of Health has issued Decree of Minister of Health Number HK.01.07./MENKES/6688/2021 on the Implementation of Vaccination for Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) for Children Age 6 (Six) to 11 (Eleven) Years signed by Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin on December 13, 2021. (BPMI Presidential Secretariat/AIT) (GWH/MUR)