Children’s Basic Immunization Coverage Drops, IDAI Holds LITTLe Ku Program

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) presents a special program LITTLe Ku (Complete My Child’s Late/Incomplete Immunization). The program was launched because, according to reports, diseases that can be prevented by basic immunization recently increased in Indonesia.

“There is diphtheria, measles, and rubella, this is related to the declining vaccine immunization for these diseases,” said the General Chairperson of IDAI, Piprim Basarah Yanuarso, in a virtual event entitled ‘Multisectoral Support for Pursuing Immunization’ on Monday, November 29, 2021.

Diphtheria, measles and rubella are included in the group of diseases that have been preventable through the basic immunization program. There are 13 diseases in total and 10 are polio; tetanus; influenza; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis A; Haemophilus influenzae type b; pertussis or whooping cough; pneumonia PVC13; rotavirus; and mumps.

The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the world’s basic immunization coverage to fall by an average of 3 percent in 2020 from the previous year (from 86 percent to 83 percent). Meanwhile in Indonesia, the decline was sharper, from 93.7 percent to 82.6 percent, or down 11.1 percent.

According to Piprim, if the coverage of basic immunization to prevent about 13 diseases in Indonesia drops below 60 percent, then sufferers of the disease can reappear. On the other hand, many health workers who are not pediatricians, at the puskesmas, are actually worried about immunizing children whose schedule is missed.

“Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, people are afraid to go out of the house so that many children miss their vaccination schedule, this happens a lot,” said Piprim explaining the reason why LITTLe Ku was held.

The LITTLe Ku event starts from data collection of cases in the province, vaccination coverage figures in the province, I-Points basic data, to basic data on branch IDAI social media. In addition, there is also a campaign on social media related to immunization, Instagram Live, issuing a guide catch up immunization, I-Point socialization, and making hotline IDAI to support questions from health workers.

“The activity is held from November to December, and it is hoped that it will continue,” he said.

Executive Director of the International Paediatrics Association (IPA), Aman Bhakti Pulungan, added that the program carried out by IDAI is in line with the Immunization Agenda 2030 program from IPA. “I’m proud of IDAI, this program is the same as global glasses,” said he who was also present at the event.

According to Aman, in the Immunization Agenda 2030 program, there are four critical elements, namely plans; implementation; accountability and monitoring; and evaluation of immunization programs in the world. “And some critical elements have been carried out in Indonesia,” said he who also serves as President of the Asia Pacific Paediatrics Association (APPA).

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