The circular, which was distributed at the end of April through puskesmas (public health centers), annulled a previous regulation on basic immunization as an admission requirement for kindergarten and elementary schools.

Anies said he did not mean to discourage immunization campaigns, but he also did not want it to become an obstacle for children to enroll at schools.

"The circular will be retracted and we'll issue another one, because it has generated various interpretations," the former education minister told reporters on Monday at City Hall.

Anies said the revised circular would ensure that schools provide immunization access to children who were unvaccinated when they applied to schools.

Health practitioners and parents criticized the Jakarta Education Agency for issuing the new circular that stripped immunization from admission requirements, saying that communicable diseases still plagued the nation's capital.

The original regulation that made basic immunization mandatory for school admission was issued by former governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama. (fac/wit)

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