Malang, (malangkota.go.id) – The Malang City Government (Pemkot) through the Health Office (Dinkes) will carry out Covid-19 vaccination for children aged 6 years and above. This program is implemented by the Health Office in collaboration with the Ikatan Luhur Nusantara (ILUNA), the Malang City Education and Culture Office (Disdikbud), and the Malang City Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Head of Disease Prevention and Control Division of Malang City Health Office, Meifta Eti Winindar, S.ST., MM said that Malang City Government continues to strive in preventing and controlling Covid-19, especially for children. "We will try to prevent Covid-19 in children aged 6 years. The Health Office is communicating with cross-sectors, especially with targets under the Education and Culture Office and the Ministry of Religion, regarding the number and names that have been identified. The expiration date for vaccine logistics is September 14, 2022, so that it can be done until the second dose," he explained.
Furthermore, Meifta said that the plan is for the first dose of vaccination for this target to begin on August 14, 2022. "Later it will be arranged so that target students can visit the health facility closest to the school location or according to the results of the discussion at this coordination meeting," he said at the Covid-19 Vaccination Coordination Meeting for Children > 6 years, Tuesday (9/8/2022).
Meanwhile, Acting Head of Surveillance and Immunization Sub-Sub-Division, drg. Muhammad Zamroni stated that the type of vaccine that will be given is the Sinovac vaccine. "This vaccine is intended for new students and those who have not received it yesterday, so they can get a follow-up vaccine now," he said.
Zamroni said that the Sinovac vaccine available at the Malang City Health Office for vaccination of children aged > 6 years is 22.908 doses. While the total number of children targeted for vaccination is 8.534 consisting of 5.072 RA/MI students under the Ministry of Religion and 3.462 kindergarten and elementary school students under the Malang City Education and Culture Office.
For your information, Covid-19 vaccination for children not only protects children from Covid-19 infection, but is also important to prevent children from transmitting it to vulnerable adults. That way, the chain of Covid-19 transmission can be broken. Vaccination is so important for children, that the Health Office together with cross-sectors in Malang City are preparing to hold simultaneous vaccinations for children.
"Therefore, the Health Office held this coordination meeting presenting cross-sectors, namely from health facilities and schools at the TK/RA and SD/MI levels, and the Principal Working Group (K3S) of each sub-district in Malang City," he concluded. (ari/ram)
