Mandatory immunization is immunization that must be obtained by children before the age of 1 year. In Indonesia, there are 5 types of immunization that must be given to children. Each type of immunization needs to be given according to its own schedule in order to provide the maximum protective effect against disease.
Immunization is the process of administering vaccines to a person's body to provide immunity against dangerous diseases that can cause disability or even death.
Compulsory immunization has been proven to be safe and useful for preventing disease transmission in children and at the same time preventing them from transmitting disease to other children.
Although infected, children who have received immunizations will also usually show milder symptoms than children who are not immunized.
5 Types of Compulsory Immunization and Schedule of Administration
Based on the Regulation of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia No. 42 of 2013 and No. 12 of 2017 concerning the administration of immunization, it is stated that there are 5 types of compulsory immunization that must be obtained by the Little One.
These five types of mandatory immunization are given according to the age of the child and the schedule set by the government, and of course based on the doctor's consideration. The five types of immunization are:
1. Hepatitis B immunization
Hepatitis B is still commonly found in Indonesia. Hepatitis B immunization aims to prevent hepatitis B, which is a liver infection that can cause dangerous complications, such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. The type of vaccine used is the hepatitis B vaccine.
The vaccine is given to infants 4 times. The first administration is carried out immediately after the baby is born or no later than 12 hours after birth. Then, the vaccine was given again successively at the age of 2, 3, and 4 months.
If the baby is born to a mother who is infected with hepatitis B, then the hepatitis B immunization must be given to the baby no later than 12 hours after birth. The baby also needs to get an injection of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) to generate immunity to the hepatitis B virus quickly.
2. Polio immunization
Polio is an infectious disease caused by a viral infection that attacks the nervous system in the brain and spinal cord. In severe cases, polio can cause shortness of breath, meningitis, paralysis, and even death. Now, Polio immunization aims to prevent children from contracting the disease.
In Indonesia, the type of polio vaccine that is generally used is the polio vaccine drops (oral), but there is also a polio vaccine that is available in the form of injections.
The polio vaccine drops are given 4 times, namely when the baby is born or at the latest when he is 1 month old. Furthermore, the vaccine was given successively at the age of 2 months, 3 months, and 4 months. Meanwhile, the injectable polio vaccine is given once, at the age of 4 months.
3. BCG Immunization
This immunization aims to protect the body from germs that cause tuberculosis or TB. TB is a dangerous infectious disease that can attack the respiratory tract, bones, muscles, skin, lymph nodes, brain, gastrointestinal tract, and kidneys.
BCG immunization is included in the list of mandatory immunizations in Indonesia, because Indonesia still has a high number of TB cases. BCG immunization is only done once and is given to babies at the age of 2 or 3 months. BCG immunization is given by injection into the baby's skin.
4. Measles immunization
Measles immunization is given as a preventive measure against severe measles which can cause pneumonia, diarrhea, and inflammation of the brain (encephalitis). Measles immunization is given 3 times, namely when children are 9 months, 18 months and 6 years old.
If the child is given the MR/MMR vaccine at the age of 15 months, it is not necessary to give measles immunization again at the age of 18 months. This is because the MR or MMR vaccine already contains the measles vaccine.
5. DPT-HB-HiB . immunization
DPT-HB-HiB immunization can provide protection and prevention against 6 diseases at once, namely diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, hepatitis B, pneumonia, and meningitis (inflammation of the brain).
This mandatory immunization is given 4 times with a successive schedule of administration to infants at the age of 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, and the last dose is given when the child is 18 months old.
Additional Immunizations That Need To Be Given to Children
In addition to the five mandatory immunizations above, the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) also recommends parents that each child receive additional immunizations, namely:
- MR/MMR vaccine, to prevent measles, rubella, and mumps.
- Pneumococcal vaccine (PCV), to prevent infection with pneumococcal bacteria that causes pneumonia, ear inflammation, and meningitis.
- Rotavirus vaccine, to protect children from gastroenteritis that causes diarrhea.
- Hepatitis A and typhoid vaccines, to reduce the risk of hepatitis A and typhoid fever in children.
- Varicella vaccine, to prevent infection with the varicella-zoster virus that causes chickenpox.
- Influenza vaccine, to provide protection against ARI due to flu.
- HPV vaccine (Human Papillomavirus), as a prevention against cervical cancer.
- Vaccine Japanese encephalitis (JE), to prevent viral infection Japanese encephalitis which causes inflammatory brain disease.
To get mandatory immunization, you can take your child to health service centers, such as posyandu, health centers, doctor's offices, and hospitals.
Mandatory immunization can be given free of charge or at a very cheap price because it has been budgeted for by the government. Meanwhile, additional immunizations can be obtained by paying a fee according to the price of the vaccine and the doctor's service fee.
In order to achieve an optimal protective effect, all types of immunization, both mandatory immunization and supplementary immunization, must be obtained by infants according to the recommended schedule. However, if the child falls ill at the time of the immunization schedule, the immunization can be postponed until the child recovers.