Ministry of Health Defines Extraordinary Events of Polio, Vaccinations Prepared

The Indonesian Ministry of Health has determined an Extraordinary Event (KLB) for polio. This is due to the finding of a polio case in a 7-year-old child in Pidie District, Aceh.

It is known that the child has not received Polio immunization. Outbreak status was still issued even though there was only one case finding.

Regarding this incident, the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) is targeting 95,603 children aged 0-12 years in Pidie, Aceh, to receive polio vaccination. This target was set since the administration of the polio vaccine began earlier this week, Monday (28/11/2022).

As for the first day of immunization, the Ministry of Health has given the polio vaccine to 14,000 children.

“We have started giving mass immunization to children in Pidie District. Thank God, 14,000 children have been immunized,” said Maxi Rein Rondonuwu in a press release, Tuesday (29/11/2022).

Maxi said immunization would also be held in 21 regencies/cities in Aceh Province apart from Pidie District. The implementation will be carried out in stages, in 2 rounds with a target of around 1,217,939 children aged 0-12 years.

Maxi hopes that this target can be achieved. Therefore, Maxi stressed that the support and participation of all parties in the government, and all levels of society are needed for the success of this activity.

Mainly support from parents by inviting their children, from 0 months to 12 years old, including newcomers, regardless of previous immunization status, to come to the nearest health care facility or immunization post to get Polio immunization.

Previously, on October 9, 2022, 1 case of acute paralysis or AFP was reported in a 7-year-old child in Pidie District, Aceh Province. After taking a stool sample and laboratory examination, the results of type 2 polio VDPV were obtained in the child’s body.

The re-emergence of polio cases can indeed occur due to several reasons, one of which is due to the low immunization coverage in Pidie District. Based on data received from Aceh Province, polio immunization coverage in Aceh Province and Pidie District has been very low for several years.

Based on information from the official website belonging to the Ministry of Health Kemkes.go.id, there are 415 districts/cities and 30 provinces in Indonesia that fall into the high-risk criteria for Polio. This is due to low immunization coverage.

Head of the Disease Control Prevention Division, Management of Data and Health Information Systems, the Yogyakarta City Health Office, Lana Unwanah, confirmed that there were no findings of polio cases in the city of Jogja.

He noted the first to third IPV (Inactive Polio Vaccine) immunization results had reached above 80 percent. The details are the first IPV dose of 84 percent, the second IPV of 82 percent, and the third IPV of 80 percent.

“Whether or not there is an outbreak of Polio, we always and continue to strive to increase immunization coverage for infants. Including the Polio immunization,” he explained via a short message, Wednesday (23/11).

Lana added that it is transmitted through a virus and cannot be treated. Treatment is only supportive and symptomatic through physiotherapy to maintain muscle mass.

For this reason, immunization is important to provide immunity for the body if it is infected with the Polio virus. The first to third IPV immunizations are given to children aged 2 months, 3 months, and 4 months. Immunization can be accessed at healthcare facilities such as health centers, clinics, and hospitals.