Yuni Rohmawati, Jakarta – The South Sumatra Provincial Health Office is preparing to distribute 5,000 free doses of the dengue fever (DBD) vaccine to children across Palembang. This initiative aims to reduce dengue cases across the South Sumatra region.

The Head of the South Sumatra Health Office, Trisnawarman, stated that Palembang is one of three Indonesian cities selected for this vaccine trial, alongside Jakarta and Banjarmasin.

This program operates through collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Takeda Indonesia. It serves as a national research and a pilot project to measure vaccine effectiveness. "This is a pilot program to observe the vaccine's effectiveness in reducing the incidence of DBD-related illnesses," Trisnawarman said on Monday.

The primary target includes school-age children, specifically those aged 6 to 12. This group is considered vulnerable due to developing immune systems and high activity in school environments, which may house Aedes aegypti breeding grounds.

"Schools often become vulnerable points of transmission. Children are very active outdoors, while environmental cleanliness is not always maximally monitored," he explained.

The Takeda vaccine used in this program reportedly offers 80 percent effectiveness in preventing severe DBD and reducing mortality risks in children. While it does not fully prevent infection, it minimizes symptom severity. "So if they get infected, the symptoms will not be severe, just a normal fever. Its mechanism is similar to the COVID-19 vaccine," Trisnawarman said.

Tris noted that private access to this vaccine is expensive, costing approximately Rp1.4 million for two doses. This free program intends to provide protection without afinancial burden on parents.

The South Sumatra Governor plans to launch the program officially before Ramadan in February.

Despite the vaccine rollout, the Health Agency maintains that eradicating mosquito breeding sites via the 3M movement is the primary prevention.

"The vaccine is additional protection. But the key remains in environmental maintenance. 3M should continue to be implemented together. And our hope for the future is that the government can also budget this sustainably," he added.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2080175/palembang-to-launch-free-dengue-vaccine-trial-for-kid