Starfruit (malangkota.go.id) – Rotavirus (RV) is known as a virus that causes inflammation of the digestive tract. Rotavirus infection is a common cause of diarrhea in infants and children and can be transmitted through fecal-oral. This virus will easily infect children who do not have perfect immunity, especially if they live with poor environmental sanitation.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said that diarrhea is the second largest contributor to death in children aged 29 days - 11 months, which is 9,8 percent. Based on WHO data (2017), it is known that there are around 1,7 billion cases of diarrhea in toddlers which cause the death of 525.000 toddlers each year.
In Indonesia, diarrhea is also a health problem for all age groups, especially in children under five years old (toddlers). However, diarrhea due to rotavirus can be prevented by rotavirus immunization. In fact, rotavirus immunization is one of the vaccines most recommended by the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) to be given to children.
Reported from IDAI, rotavirus immunization serves to prevent diarrhea caused by rotavirus. IDAI revealed that rotavirus causes 60-70% of diarrhea cases in children. In addition, this virus is very easily spread to infants and children.
To reduce cases of diarrhea due to rotavirus, the Ministry of Health has increased the number of mandatory routine immunizations in Indonesia, from 11 vaccines to 14 vaccines, including rotavirus. By including rotavirus in routine immunizations which are a government program, it means that people do not need to spend money to get the rotavirus vaccine.
"Previously, rotavirus immunization was not mandatory and paid. It was also not available at health centers. But now it has become a mandatory immunization," said the Head of Disease Prevention and Control (P2P) of the Malang City Health Office, Meifta Eti Winindar, SST, MM.
Referring to the official release from the Indonesian Ministry of Health (Kemkes) on Sunday (13/8/2023), the Spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Dr. Muhammad Syahril, stated that the kick-off for RV immunization will be carried out nationally on August 15, 2023 in South Sulawesi.
"The target for RV immunization is to start at the earliest in children aged two months (or babies born on May 16) who will be given three doses with a gap of four weeks between doses, and the last dose of RV immunization is given to babies aged 6 months and 29 days," explained Dr. Syahril.
In 2022, RV immunization in Indonesia will be implemented in stages in 21 districts/cities in 18 provinces targeting 196.876 infants. "There were two considerations at that time, namely the high morbidity and mortality rates of diarrhea in toddlers and the readiness of regional resources in implementing immunization," explained Dr. Syahril.
The implementation of immunization is carried out in an integrated manner with cross-programs and cross-sectors in terms of manpower, facilities, and funds from the central level to the implementing level. All vaccine needs are charged to the APBN, while operational costs are charged to the APBN, APBD and other non-binding sources. (ari/yon)
