Boost Your Child’s Health: Expert Urges Parents to Complete Recommended Immunizations During Year-End Holidays
JAKARTA, Indonesia — As families prepare for the upcoming holidays, healthcare expert Dr. Siti Habsyah Masri, M.Ked(Ped), Sp.A, CIMI, reminds parents to prioritize their children’s health by completing their immunizations. Speaking at a healthcare event at Puskesmas Tebet Jakarta, Dr. Habsyah emphasized the importance of catching up on recommended vaccinations during the festive season.
"This is a timely reminder for parents to ensure their children’s immunizations are up-to-date according to the 2024 IDAI (Ikatan Dokter Anak Indonesia) recommendations," said Dr. Habsyah. The IDAI has outlined a comprehensive list of vaccinations crucial for protecting children’s health.
Key vaccinations, as recommended by the IDAI for 2024, include:
- Hepatitis B, to shield against liver disease.
- Polio, to protect against paralytic polio.
- BCG (Bacillus Calmette Guerin), to guard against tuberculosis.
- DTP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis), to safeguard against three deadly bacterial infections.
- HiB (Haemophilus influenzae type b), to prevent bacterial infections resulting in life-threatening conditions.
- PCV (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine), to protect against pneumonia and other serious bacterial infections.
- Rotavirus, to prevent severe diarrhea caused by this virus.
- MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella), to guard against three highly contagious and sometimes serious diseases.
- Influenza, to protect against seasonal flu.
- Dengue, to safeguard against dengue fever.
- HPV (Human Papillomavirus), to prevent cervical cancer.
Parents should note that some of these vaccinations, such as Hepatitis B, BCG, polio, DTP, HiB, MMR, and HPV, are already part of the routine immunization program provided by the government. The influenza vaccination, however, is not included in the government’s program and must be obtained privately.
Dr. Habsyah highlighted the urgent need for parents to ensure their children receive these vaccinations, as they significantly enhance the child’s immunity to withstand potential infections. She also emphasized that timely vaccinations can prevent serious health issues, disabilities, and even death.
In Jakarta, the target for full basic immunization coverage in 2022 was 90%, yet the achieved rate was 77%. Nationally, however, the 2022 coverage rate stood at 94.9%, showing a significant improvement from the 2019 rate of 84%.
