Experts Explain Challenges of Vaccine Education in Indonesia

Jakarta, CNN Indonesia –

Vaccines are the most effective asset for dealing with infectious diseases to prevent epidemics and pandemics.

Various types of viruses exist that make the use of vaccines appropriate, such as measles and rubella which use the MR vaccine.

However, various cultures and beliefs often become a challenge for health workers in vaccinating. For example, what happened in East Java, before successfully giving MR vaccine to the public.

“Sometimes, we can’t educate directly to the community, but with a cultural approach. So we draw closer to community leaders, religious leaders, regional leaders, perhaps first giving those figures an understanding. Then they will provide socialization and understanding to the community. , “said Dr. dr. Kohar Hari Santoso, Director of RSSA Malang and Chairman of the East Java COVID-19 task force Tracing Team in a productive dialogue with the theme “Learning from the Success of the MR Vaccine in East Java and the Role of Media in Vaccination” at the Media Center Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery ( KPCPEN), Tuesday (17/11/2020).

Not only does it stop at vaccine education, but the public must also get sufficient explanation about AEFIs (Post-Immunization Follow-Up Events), which can occur.

“We have prepared a team, experts, doctors to anticipate if there are side effects, follow-up events after immunization (AEFI). We have prepared that,” said Kohar.

AEFI itself is not a scary thing, because it is usually mild. However, prevention to reduce the risk of these follow-up events must still be done.

“Before injecting (the vaccine), we have to check the person concerned, whether his condition is quite fit, healthy enough. So that if we inject the vaccine, his resistance, or immunity, or antibodies can grow,” said the doctor.

“If he is in a sick condition, even if we put in a disease that we have weakened, it could even become a follow-up incident (AEFI). But the most common side event is a hot reaction and generally can be overcome by being given medication,” he added.

He also stated that the notion that vaccines were expensive was also wrong.

“I agree that the cost (of the vaccine) is not small. But it is relatively expensive, compared to the later events if you get sick or disabled, the burden is higher, the cost is even more expensive. The calculation is even more difficult,” said Dr. Kahar.

[Gambas:Video CNN]

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