Immunization is the process of giving antibodies to children to prevent certain diseases. As a form of healthy Indonesian children, the government has given an obligation to provide several types of immunizations to prevent various diseases in children.
Although it is required by the government, data from the Indonesian Ministry of Health states that there are still 1.7 million Indonesian children who have not received immunizations, are late or have not completed the mandatory immunization series. This will make the child susceptible to several diseases for which antibodies should have been given through immunization. The following are a number of mandatory basic immunizations that need to be given to children:
- Measles Immunization
Measles immunization is useful for preventing children from getting severe measles which triggers many dangerous diseases. Measles immunization must be given to children 3 times, namely at the age of 9 months, 18 months, and 6 years.
- BCG Immunization
BCG immunization is an immunization that is useful for protecting children from the cause of tuberculosis (TB). TB itself is a dangerous infectious disease that can attack the respiratory tract, bones, muscles, skin, lymph nodes, brain, digestive tract, and kidneys. BCG immunization is only done once when the child is 2 to 3 months old.
- Polio Immunization
The polio immunization commonly used in Indonesia is in the form of drops, which are given 4 times, from birth or at the latest at 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, and 4 months. In addition, there is also immunization that is provided in the form of injections, which are only given once, when the child is 4 months old.
- DPT-HB-HiB Immunization
DPT-HB-HiB immunization is a combined vaccine that can prevent 6 diseases at once, including diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B, pneumonia, and meningitis. DPT-HB-HiB immunization is given 4 times, when the baby is 2 months old, 3 months old, 4 months old, and 18 months old.
- Hepatitis B Immunization
This immunization aims to prevent hepatitis B, which can cause cirrhosis and liver cancer. Hepatitis B immunization is given to infants 4 times, shortly after delivery, at 2 months, 3 months, and 4 months.
Those are 5 mandatory basic immunizations for every Indonesian child. Don't forget to protect your little one, by immunizing your child!