Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – The COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 6-11 years old in Indonesia began on Tuesday (Dec. 12), targeting around 26.8 million children based on the 2020 population census data, the health ministry’s acting director general for disease prevention and control, Maxi Rein Rondonuwu, said at a press conference on Sunday (Dec. 12).

Vaccination against COVID-19 for this group has been recommended by the Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI), and will be carried out in stages.

The first stage of vaccination will be carried out in provinces and districts/cities for the first doses covering above 70 percent of the target.

So far, there have been 8.8 million children in 106 districts/cities in 11 provinces that have met the criteria, namely Banten, Yogyakarta, Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, East Kalimantan, Riau Islands, West Nusa Tenggara, North Sulawesi, and Bali.

The vaccine used for children is Sinovac which already has an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM).

A total of 6.4 million doses of Sinovac will be used until the end of December 2021.

Maxi added that starting next year the Sinovac vaccine would only be used for children aged 6-11 years, while other groups would receive injections of other vaccines.

The vaccination is intramuscular injection in the upper arm with a dose of 0.5 ml. The vaccination is given twice with the fastest interval of 28 days. Prior to the vaccination, the recipients should go through a screening process.

The vaccination could be carried out at the health community centers, hospitals or other health care facilities, both belonging to government and the private sector, including vaccination service posts and vaccination centers.

The vaccinations are also expected to be held in schools or other educational units, or children's social welfare institutions such as orphanages, Maxi said.

Reporting by Indonesia Window