TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Health Ministry to hold outbreak response immunization (ORI) in three provinces following the current outbreak of diphtheria.
ORI is a vaccination held for three times. The second immunization will be held a month after the first one, and the last one will be executed six months after the second immunization.
"Based on the epidemiology examination, there are three diphtheria criteria; 66 percent of the case has completely skipped the vaccination, 31 percent has done incomplete immunization, and the 3 percent has completed the immunization," said director general of disease prevention and control at the Health Ministry, H.M. Subuh.
Read: Breaking News: 22 Children in Jakarta Infected with Diphtheria
According to Subuh, most of the people infected with diphtheria were those who have skipped immunization. Meanwhile, for those who have completed the immunization yet still infected with the disease was caused by the weak immune.
ORI will be held in three provinces namely Jakarta, West Java, and Banten. The head of Jakarta Health Department Koesmedi Priharto said his office will coordinate with all parties.
"Hopefully on Monday, December 11, [the vaccination] can be commenced."
The health departments of West Java and Banten will also coordinate with their governors to success the ORI in the attempt to prevent the widespread of diphtheria.
MOH. KHORY ALFARIZI | DA
