11 Provinces Get Nod to Start Vaccinating Children Aged Six to 11

TheIndonesia.id - Indonesia has started vaccinating children aged six to 11 on Tuesday, December 14, but only a handful of provinces have been allowed to roll out the vaccination.

While it was initially announced that vaccination for the age group will start just a day before Christmas, central and regional governments have started the program on Tuesday. However, regions must meet the requirements before they can start vaccinating young children.

As mandated by Minister of Home Affairs Instruction (Inmendagri) No. 66/2021, only regions in Indonesia that have achieved 70 percent of the first dose vaccination target and 60 percent of vaccination for its elderlies may vaccinate children aged six to 11.

Based on the criteria, 106 municipals and regencies in 11 provinces have met the requirements. The provinces are Banten, Yogyakarta, Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, East Kalimantan, Riau Islands, West Nusa Tenggara, North Sulawesi, and Bali.

The COVID-19 vaccine will be administered intramuscularly and will be given in two doses at a 28-day interval. Medics will conduct standard screening before injecting the vaccine.

The government will use Sinovac vaccine as emergency use authorization (UEA) has been issued by the Drug and Food Control Agency (BPOM) earlier in November. 6.4 million doses are currently available for use until the end of December, with more doses to come in 2022.

According to data from the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs, there are currently 26.5 million children aged six to 11 in Indonesia.

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Muhadjir Effendy said the vaccination is urgent as children in Indonesia have started in-person learning in schools, and it can also protect other family members.

“This vaccination is important because [it’s] part of herd immunity. If these children are vaccinated, they will also protect their grandparents and those who are close to them,” Effendy said in a statement on Tuesday, December 14.