Table of contents:
- Why is the immunization of school age children also important?
- What immunizations should be given to children? When should it be given?
- If I miss my child's immunization schedule, what should I do?
When was the last time your child was immunized? Yes, maybe you know that immunization is only done when the child is still a toddler. But did you know that immunizations for children must also be done again when they enter school age? Then what types of immunizations should be given to children?
Why is the immunization of school age children also important?
Basically, immunization is a preventive activity. Immunization is carried out so that a person can avoid infectious diseases or relieve symptoms of the disease. This method is the most effective and inexpensive method of prevention in overcoming disease.
Immunization must be given to children under five, given the immune system of children under five is very vulnerable. Then what about children who have passed that age? As you get older, your child's immune system also improves. However, this does not rule out the possibility of them contracting other infectious diseases at their increasing age.
Therefore, after carrying out mandatory immunization at the age of under five, children must receive further immunization when they enter school age. In addition to protecting against viral infections, immunization of children can also help improve cognitive function and maintain good nutritional status.
What immunizations should be given to children? When should it be given?
In Indonesia itself, there has been an advanced immunization schedule for school-age children issued by the Indonesian Ministry of Health. Meanwhile, the type of immunization for school-age children that has been announced in Indonesia is diphtheria tetanus (DT), measles, and tetanus diphtheria (Td). The following is the immunization schedule for primary school age children that has been regulated by the Ministry of Health:
- Grade 1 SD, given measles immunization with implementation time every August and immunization tetanus diphtheria (DT) every November.
- Grade 2-3 SD, given immunizations tetanus diphtheria (Td) in November.
Meanwhile, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, other types of child immunization that should also be done are:
- Flu immunization that can be done when children aged 7-18 years who experience flu every year. This type of immunization is a safe immunization given to all children with different conditions.
- Immunization Human papillomavirus, can be given when the child is 11-12 years old. Or it can also be given when the child reaches the age of 9-10 years, if indeed the child's health condition requires it.
- Meningitis immunization when the child is 11-12 years old. However, this immunization includes special immunizations, so you must first consult with your pediatrician.
However, to find out whether all types of immunizations are needed or not, you must discuss this with your doctor and the medical team. The doctor will consider whether your child should be immunized or not.
If I miss my child's immunization schedule, what should I do?
If you are late in bringing your child for immunization, don't worry. As long as your child is not infected with certain infectious diseases, the child can still get it at a later date. consult this with your pediatrician to find out the schedule, type, and dose of immunizations that are right for your child.
For example, a child does not get measles immunization when he is a toddler, so your child can get it when he is 6-12 years old. This is in accordance with the activities Catch up CampaignMeasles organized by the Ministry of Health which is carried out simultaneously. This activity aims to prevent the measles virus from occurring in school age children. In addition, the purpose of immunizing these children is to break the chain of measles transmission.
x
