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Health Ministry says no need to panic over fake vaccines
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A health worker at Waelengga Puskesmas community health center in Watunggene subdistrict, Kota Komba district, East Manggarai regency, Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, vaccinates a child against polio during the 2016 National Immunization Week. (thejakartapost.com/Markus Makur)
T
he Health Ministry has played down concerns over the perceived increasing use of fake vaccines and has guaranteed the safety and originality of vaccines provided by government-backed health clinics.
"If children are vaccinated at posyandu [integrated health services posts], puskesmas [local health clinics] or government hospitals, we guarantee the originality and the safety of the vaccines," the ministry tweeted on its official Twitter account @KemenkesRI.
The guaranteed vaccines are those included in the Complete Basic Immunization program, including those for Hepatitis B, diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus, measles and tuberculosis. The government obtains the vaccines from an official distributor and distributes them to local health centers. The ministry has urged parents to have their children immunized at posyandu and puskesmas.
Counterfeit vaccines have been found to account for no more than 1 percent of vaccines in Jakarta, Banten and West Java, the ministry said, adding that it was low considering the number and the area concerned.
The fake vaccines are thought to contain infusion liquid and antibiotic gentamicin with 0.5 cc dose per immunization.
"The fake vaccines are not dangerous judging by the contents and dose," tweeted the ministry.
However, the fake vaccines have the potential to cause illness as they are reportedly made under unhygienic conditions.
The National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) arrested 13 people in relation to the case in raids in Bekasi, South Tangerang, Jakarta, Bogor and Subang between June 16 and 23. (rin)
