Diphtheria Outbreak: Government Expands Immunization Program
28 December 2017 10:04 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Health Minister Nila Moeloek confirmed that the diphtheria immunization program will be expanded as soon as possible. The decision was made after a meeting held at Bogor Palace on Wednesday, December 28.
“This is an endemic disease. It’s existed for a long time and we have just started giving out diphtheria shots since the discovery in 1977. We have just started to conduct an immunization month to school children,” said Nila prior to the meeting.
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Several cases have emerged since the disease was identified. Last week, for example, a student of Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University died in an isolation room at the Dradjat Prawiranegara Hospital after she was suspected of suffering from the disease.
The outbreak response immunization (ORI) had only initially been implemented in three provinces, namely Banten, Jakarta, and West Java, which was commenced since December 10.
Minister Nila said that the immunization program is expanded since diphtheria never really disappears. Other than that, the bacteria easily attack people with a weak body resistance. The vaccine for the ORI program is provided by Bio Farma.
Istman Musaharun Pramadiba