Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Indonesia has officially launched a vaccination program for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and children aged 12-18 years old.

"I welcome the start of the vaccination program for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and children aged 12-18 years old, who are categorized as a more vulnerable group to the COVID-19 infection," said Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin in his remarks at the 28th Commemoration of the National Family Day via a videoconference on Tuesday (June 29).

The vice president said that vaccination is one of the breakthroughs in the effort to deal with the pandemic that the government is currently making.

He hoped that the implementation of the program could reach the target of 1-2 million doses of vaccination per day as set by President Joko Widodo.

On that occasion, the vice president appreciated the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) with the support of the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI), which in a short time issued a recommendation for the use of Sinovac vaccine for children aged 12-18 years old.

"This decision is very right considering the mortality rate of COVID-19 patients aged 10-18 years is quite high, which is 30 percent," he said, adding that apart from children, vaccination for pregnant women has also been recommended by the Indonesian Obstetrics and Gynecology Association (POGI).

“The POGI has provided recommendations for giving vaccines to pregnant women, especially high-risk pregnant women, namely those aged over 35 years old, having a BMI (body mass index) above 40, with comorbid diabetes and hypertension, as well as to health workers who are pregnant. However,we are still waiting for recommendations from the BPOM," he said.

Meanwhile, pregnant women with low risks can get injections after consulting their doctors and are willing to make their own choices, the vice president added.

Quoting Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin's statement, Ma'ruf Amin said that the COVID-19 vaccination could be given to pregnant women under the supervision of doctors, both before and after receiving the jabs.

He stressed that in an effort to curb the rate of COVID-19 infection, the central government and local administrations will continue to intensify testing, tracing, and treatment.

"We still need to work hard to increase the testing and tracing capacity so that those who are infected with COVID-19 can be identified and isolated immediately to prevent further transmission," he said.

Reporting by Indonesia Window