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The Importance Of The Polio PIN To Prevent Outbreaks Is Crucial

The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) of Indonesia is still receiving reports regarding Extraordinary Events (KLB) due to the Polio virus in several regions of the country. A total of 32 provinces and 399 districts/cities in Indonesia are classified as high-risk for polio.

From 2022 to 2024, a total of 12 cases of paralysis have been reported, with 11 cases caused by polio virus type 2 and one case caused by polio virus type 1. These cases are spread across 8 provinces in Indonesia, namely Aceh, West Java, Central Java, East Java, Central Papua, Highlands Papua, South Papua, and Banten.

Acting Director General of Disease Prevention and Control (P2P) at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Yudi Pramono, stated that due to the reported polio cases and the high risk of polio virus transmission, the Ministry of Health will hold the second phase of the National Polio Immunization Week (PIN) in the third week of July 2024.

"The implementation of the PIN Polio will be done massively and simultaneously to achieve optimal group immunity and prevent the spread of polio virus transmission," said Dr. Yudi during a virtual press conference held on Friday (19/7).

Dr. Yudi explained that the PIN Polio will be conducted in two phases. "The first phase of PIN has already been carried out on May 27, 2024, while the second phase will be conducted on July 23, 2024," said Dr. Yudi.

The first phase of PIN Polio was conducted in five provinces, namely Central Papua, South Papua, Highlands Papua, West Papua, and Southwest Papua. Meanwhile, the second phase of PIN Polio will be conducted in 27 provinces, including West Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, Bengkulu, Lampung, Bangka Belitung Islands, Riau Islands, DKI Jakarta, Yogyakarta, except for Sleman Regency, Banten, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, North Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, Gorontalo, West Sulawesi, Maluku, and North Maluku.

Giving immunization to the Polio Immunization Target (PIN) is very important to prevent the polio virus, which can cause permanent paralysis, especially in children who have not received complete polio immunization. The target of PIN Polio is children aged 0 to 7 years regardless of their previous immunization status. The vaccine to be given is the oral and injectable immunization vaccine.

Director of Immunization Management of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Prima, explained that polio can be prevented with complete polio immunization. Complete polio immunization, which has been included in the national program, consists of two types of vaccines, namely the oral polio vaccine and the injectable polio vaccine.

"The oral polio vaccine is given three times, at the age of 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months, known as OPV 1, OPV 2, and OPV 3. Then at the age of 4 months, the vaccine is given in combination, both orally and by injection, called IPV. Not only that, at the age of 9 months, the IPV 2 vaccine will be given again," said Dr. Prima, who also served as a speaker at the media meeting.

Complete immunization or a combination of oral polio immunization (OPV) and injectable polio immunization (IPV) is needed to form optimal immunity against all polio viruses.

The coverage of polio immunization, both oral and injectable, must reach 95% and be evenly distributed in a region to form group immunity. This is to prevent the widespread spread of the polio virus and the emergence of high-risk polio cases.

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Tag: Kemenkes KLB Polio PIN Polio Virus Yudi During