The Buleleng Regency Government (Pemkab) continues to aggressively seek various ways to suppress the positive number of COVID-19 cases, one of which is by conducting a vaccination program. Today, Monday (5/7), the Buleleng Regency Government implemented a vaccination program that targets children aged 12-17 years, especially all junior high schools in Buleleng Regency. This was conveyed directly by the Regent of Buleleng, Putu Agus Suradnyana, ST when he directly inspected the location of the vaccination at SMP Negeri 1 Singaraja.
The vaccination of children aged 12-17 years is carried out after the issuance of an emergency use authorization (EUA) by the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) and recommendations from the National Immunization Expert Advisory Committee or the Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI).
The vaccination program for children aged 12-17 years will receive the Sinovac vaccine produced by PT. Biofarma, in this vaccination, will be given a dose of 0.5 ml of vaccine twice, giving two doses of vaccine given a distance or interval of at least 28 days.
Buleleng Regent Agus Suradnyana said the Covid-19 vaccination program for children aged 12-17 years was carried out to prevent the increasing number of children infected with Covid-19 who had severe conditions and needed treatment. He continued, he said that he would carry out this vaccination simultaneously in all Junior High Schools (SMP) in Buleleng.
"Starting tomorrow, a simultaneous vaccination has been carried out targeting children aged 12-17 years at the junior high school level in Buleleng," he concluded.
Meanwhile, the Regional Secretary (Sekda) of Buleleng Regency, Drs. Gede Suyasa, M.Pd who is also the Secretary of the Task Force (Satgas) for handling Covid-19 in Buleleng Regency said that with the increasing number of confirmed cases in Buleleng, it has even involved children under 15 years old, for that, the Task Force for handling Covid-19 respond quickly by vaccinating children at an early age.
During the vaccination activity, the Regent of Buleleng was accompanied by the Buleleng Regional Secretary, Drs. Gede Suyasa, M.Pd, Head of Education, Youth, and Sports Office, Made Astika, S.Pd., MM, Head of Health Office, dr. Sucipto, S.Ked., MAP, Head of the Office of Communication, Information, Encryption and Statistics, Ketut Suwarmawan, S.STP., MM and the Principal of SMP Negeri 1 Singaraja, Dra. Ni Putu Karnadhi, M.Si in monitoring the implementation of the first Covid-19 vaccination at SMP Negeri 1 Singaraja.
First Vaccination of SMP 1 Singaraja, A total of 308 Students have been vaccinated The first vaccination for children aged 12-17 years had been carried out at SMP N 1 Singaraja. The implementation of the vaccination was reviewed directly by the Regent of Buleleng and his staff. This is done to prevent the transmission of Covid-19 to children. From the results of the vaccination carried out at SMP N 1 Singaraja, it was recorded that 308 children had been vaccinated, all of them were the number who came according to the schedule that had been prepared. This was conveyed by the Coordinator for the Data and Information of the Covid-19 Task Force for Buleleng Regency, Ketut Suwarmawan, S.STP, M.M when delivering an update on the development of the handling of Covid-19 in Buleleng in his office, Monday (5/7).
Furthermore, Ketut Suwarmawan, who is also the Head of Kominfosanti Buleleng, said that this vaccination was carried out because the emergency use authorization (EUA) was issued by the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) and the recommendation from the National Immunization Expert Advisory Committee or the Indonesian Technical Advisory. Group on Immunization (ITAGI).
"This vaccination is carried out to increase the child's immune system from Covid-19, but it is still accompanied by strict Covid-19 procedures. If these two things are done together, of course, Covid-19 can be prevented," he said.
Furthermore, related to vaccination targeting children aged 12-17 years, it will be continued to junior high schools under the auspices of the Buleleng Regency Government. However, coordination is still being carried out by the Disdikpora and the Health Office regarding the readiness for tomorrow's vaccination.
"Earlier there was a limited zoom meeting led by the Buleleng Regional Secretary, the vaccination scheme will be monitored and regulated so that it is more orderly and tighter so that there are no crowds and a schedule will be made later," he said.
Kadis Suwarmawan added that the implementation of vaccinations in schools is still coordinating between the Head of the Puskesmas and the schools in their area regarding technical matters needed such as facilities and infrastructure, internet network, and the personnel involved later.
When asked about the choice of vaccination in schools, the Head of the Department of Education, Suwarmawan, responded that schools have more complete facilities and infrastructure, the process is guaranteed and the place is representative. Judging from the data, 91.16% of teachers in junior high schools have been vaccinated, it is hoped that the children will be more protected from the transmission of Covid-19, "he concluded.
Regarding the development of Covid-19 data today, there is a balance between recovered patients and new confirmations. Where 22 recovered patients came from Gerokgak District 12 people, Buleleng District 4 people, Sukasada District 3 people, and 1 person each from Tejakula, Sawan, and Seririt Districts. Meanwhile, there were twenty-two new confirmed cases, dominated by 7 people from Gerokgak and Sawan Subdistricts, Buleleng, Sukasada, and Busungbiu Subdistricts each from 2 people from Tejakula and KubuAddan Subdistricts 1 person each. In addition, the probable case increased by 1 person from Buleleng District.
According to Kadis Suwarmawan, cumulatively, there were 4,349 confirmed cases, 3,992 people recovered, 189 people still died, and 168 people were being treated. Meanwhile, the cumulative suspected cases were 5,102 people, the cumulative close contacts were 21,804, the non-suspect confirmed cases/close contacts were 263 and the confirmed traveler cases were 2 people.