Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR-RI) Puan Maharani supports the government’s plan to provide COVID-19 vaccines for children in the age bracket of five to 11 years.
Maharani noted that this step will expand coverage for citizens, who are protected from COVID-19.
“We are grateful that the plan to administer vaccines for children in the age bracket of 5-11 years has finally started. This is a good move because every citizen of any age has the right to be protected from COVID-19,” Maharani noted in her statement received here on Friday.
She emphasized that the Indonesian House of Representatives is ready to oversee the process of providing emergency use authorization (EUA) for COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 5-11 years that is currently being carried out by the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM).
“However, the BPOM does not need to feel rushed, as vaccine safety must be a priority,” Maharani remarked.
The House speaker is optimistic that the clinical trial process would run smoothly in order to meet the target to provide vaccination in early 2022. Currently, three vaccine brands — Sinovac, Sinopharm, and Pfizer — are being clinically tested by BPOM for children aged 5-11 years.
She also urged the government to prepare various facilities to hold vaccinations for children aged 5-11 years while awaiting the permit process to use the vaccine.
“Health facilities and medical personnel must be prepared in all regions. Since the vaccine target is for children, the treatment must also be adjusted,” she added.
If vaccination for children goes smoothly, the nation’s educational system will return to normal, especially since the government encourages education units in regions with PPKM level 1-3 status to conduct limited face-to-face learning (PTM), Maharani emphasized.
“PTM learning for all educational units is absolutely necessary, so that our children, as the next generation, do not lose the quality of education. If all school-age children have been vaccinated, then offline learning can be conducted again at school,” she affirmed.
On the other hand, Maharani urged the government to accelerate the vaccination process for teenagers aged 12-17 years, which is still ongoing. She urged the school and parents to actively participate in ensuring that their kids are vaccinated as soon as possible.
“However, vaccines are not the only guarantee for children to be safe from COVID-19. Parents and teachers still have to monitor children to implement health protocols,” she said.
Source: Antara News