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Govt targets 95% coverage in MR immunization
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For the sake of your health: President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo talks to children during the launch of the measles-rubella (MR) vaccination campaign in Sleman, Yogyakarta, in August 2017. First Lady Iriana (third left), Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Puan Maharani (third right) and Health Minister Nila Djuwita Anfasa Moeloek (right) attended the event. (Antara/Andreas Fitri Atmoko)
T
he government is targeting to achieve a coverage rate of 95 percent during the second stage of its measles-rubella (MR) immunization campaign in August-September to ensure that the transmission chain of measles and rubella is fully cut, a health official said.
“We want 95 percent immunization coverage at the minimum in the upcoming MR immunization campaign,” the Health Ministry’s disease control and prevention director general Anung Sugihantono told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
With high immunization coverage of 95 percent in targeted children aged 9 months to under 15 years, people who are older, including pregnant women, can be protected from rubella.
In the second phase of the MR immunization, the government targets to vaccinate around 32 million children in 28 provinces outside Java. In the first phase last year, 35 million children in six provinces across Java were vaccinated.
(Read also: Muslim groups support vaccination but haram concerns remain)
Anung said the government would get support from various institutions. They include the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
“The supplying of vaccines and other logistics will cost around Rp 743 billion [US$51.88 million], in which Rp 714 billion will be covered by the state budget, while the remaining Rp 29 billion will be financed by Gavi,” said Anung.
Out of a total Rp 138 billion worth of operational costs, Rp 49 billion will be covered by the state budget, while the remaining Rp 89 billion will be funded by Gavi, he added.
“Meanwhile, the WHO and UNICEF will help dispatch facilitators or consultants for each province and regency,” said Anung. (stu/ebf)
