Gunung Kidul Police in  Yogyakarta Province hired a ‘Mickey Mouse’ to entertain children aged 6 to 11 years during a COVID-19 vaccination program at Kanisius Wonosari II Elementary School.

Children participating in the vaccination program are usually tense, so an entertainer dressed as Mickey Mouse was called to entertain the children and dispel their fear of vaccination, Gunung Kidul Police chief, Adjunct Senior Commissioner Aditya Galayudha Ferdiansyah, said on Thursday.

“We used this method so that children are entertained and children’s vaccination targets can be met without inciting any fear of being vaccinated,” he remarked.

The Gunung Kidul Police and Health Office have conducted vaccinations for 500 children, which have been hosted at Kanisius Wonosari II Elementary School, Ferdiansyah said.

“The vaccine stock has been coordinated with the Yogyakarta Police’s Doctor and Health Sector (Bidokkes) and the Gunung Kidul Health Office, so there is no problem,” he added.

There will be continued support for the vaccination program in Gunung Kidul, including the immunization of 6-11 year olds, which started recently, Ferdiansyah informed.

He then urged parents to send children for the COVID-19 vaccination program.

“Until now, vaccination is still one of the main efforts to stem the spread of COVID-19. Please send your children to get vaccinated at the available locations,” Ferdiansyah appealed.

Meanwhile, Head of the Gunung Kidul Health Office Dewi Irawaty said that all public health centers are obliged to conduct vaccinations for children in the 6–11 age group. They have also been asked to coordinate with each school to register students targeted for vaccination, she added.

“So far, there has been no problem, as long as parents also support their children to get vaccinated. In addition, we have not received any reports of adverse events following immunization during children’s vaccination,” Irawaty said.

Source: Antara News