The Ministry of Health announced the provision of national level PCV immunization to ensure protection for 4.6 million children and toddlers from dangerous diseases, namely pneumonia.
Director General of Disease Prevention and Control of the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Maxi Rein Rondonuwu, directly observed the PCV immunization declaration at the Talang Jambe Health Center, Palembang City, Monday (12/09/22).
"Today we have announced that PCV immunization is one of 14 types of immunization that must be given to Indonesian children," explained Maxi Rein Rondonuwu.
PCV immunization injection is done by intramuscular or left thigh injection with a three doses of 0.5 ml PCV immunization, to a 2 months old, 3 months old, and 12 months old child as a follow-up immunization.
Maxi Rein Rondonuwu explained that before it was declared as part of the 14 immunization, the policy of providing PCV immunization in Indonesia had started in 2017 in several districts in West Lombok and East Lombok. In 2021, the provision of PCV immunization is expanded in several provinces including NTB, Bangka Belitung and several districts/cities in West Java and East Java.
The provision of PCV immunization in some of these areas has proven to be safe and effective in reducing new cases of pneumonia, however the coverage is still very low. For this reason, a more massive effort is needed by encouraging the use of PCV immunization nationally and collaborating with all relevant stakeholders.
"We hope that all provinces and districts/cities can implement this PCV immunization, so we hope that the morbidity and mortality rates due to pneumonia will decrease drastically," concluded Maxi Rein Rondonuwu.
