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Conflicts, difficult terrain hamper vaccination program in Papua
The children who have still not received vaccinations are located in remote areas such as Jayawijaya and Paniai regencies.
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A Papuan mother carries her sleeping child on her back at a temporary hospital for measles and malnutrition patients in Agats, Papua, on Jan. 25, 2018. (AFP/Bay Ismoyo)
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housands of infants in several regions of Papua had still not received complete basic vaccinations as of January, the province’s health agency has said.
Complete basic vaccinations are given to infants below 12 months old, including vaccinations for Polio, Hepatitis B and rotavirus.
Papua Health Agency’s surveillance and vaccination division head Togu Sihombing said the vaccination program was behind its initial target of 68,293 infants.
“There are 46,716 infants below 12 months old that have received complete basic vaccinations, while 21,577 infants have not,” he told The Jakarta Post on Jan. 31.
According to the agency’s data, the children who still have not received vaccinations are located in remote areas such as Jayawijaya and Paniai regencies.
The vaccination rate has declined nationwide amid growing conservatism and conflicts in certain provinces.
In 2018, the measles and rubella (MR) vaccination campaign, which was conducted in 28 provinces, was initially scheduled to run from August to September, but was later extended to Oct. 31. At the end of the extension period, the ministry had only achieved 66.29 percent of its 95 percent nationwide coverage target, so a decision was made to extend the campaign to Dec. 31.
