Government Spokesperson for COVID-19 Reisa Broto Asmoro on Monday stressed the importance of immunization in preventing recurrent diseases, which are among the factors responsible for childhood stunting.
“Immunizations can prevent the risks of infection to the point of severe symptoms appearing in preventable diseases,” Asmoro said in a health broadcast, which was accessed from here on Monday.
Recurrent diseases can reduce children’s appetite, thus leading to their bodies not absorbing nutrients well, particularly in the first thousand days of life, she added.
This cycle can lead to growth and developmental disorders such as difficulty in gaining height, reduced cognitive abilities, and even other metabolic diseases, all of which afflict children until adulthood.
She said that stunting can be prevented if all parents willingly bring their children to medical facilities during the 2022 National Child Immunization Month (BIAN) in a bid to protect them against recurring and dangerous diseases.
Parents need not be afraid of or panic about the impact of immunization because the after-effects are mostly mild fever, rashes on the body, and pain at the injection site.
Immunizations must also be coupled with balanced nutrition in the first thousand days of life to ensure the optimal development of children, Asmoro said.
“If there is a complaint, you can report it to the medical staff who administered (the vaccine) or who is listed on the child’s immunization card. We can monitor the condition, and consult (about it). Don’t worry, the benefits are far greater than the (risks), because it’s better for us to not be afraid of the vaccine, but of the disease (instead),” she affirmed.
Meanwhile, Spokesperson for the Health Ministry Mohammad Syahril said that the current line-up of vaccines is only aimed at preventing cervical cancer, diarrhea, polio, measles, and rubella.
According to him, vaccines can reduce the chances of stunting because stunting itself is the result of a lack of immunity.
“Hopefully, with immunization, we can avoid disease. The child is healthy then the teeth are good, et cetera. God willing, we will be able to prevent stunting that way, but again, it’s not a special stunting vaccine, alright,” he added.
Source: Antara News