Polio Case Reported in Aceh, Indonesia's 2021 Polio Immunization Coverage

According to a report from the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), a 7-year-old child in Pidie Regency, Aceh Province, experienced paralysis in their left leg due to polio virus infection.

"In early November 2022, one polio case was found in Pidie Regency, Aceh, based on RT-PCR tracing. Therefore, the Pidie Regency government implemented a Polio Extraordinary Event (KLB) at the Regency level," said Kemenkes in its press release on Saturday (19/11/2022).

The child suffering from polio reportedly had no history of immunization. Kemenkes stated that this is one of the risk factors.

"415 Regencies/Cities in 30 provinces in Indonesia fall into the high-risk polio category due to low immunization rates, including Aceh," said Kemenkes.

"From the epidemiological investigation, in addition to the low polio immunization coverage, it was found that the population's sanitation and hygiene practices were still lacking. There are still residents practicing open defecation in rivers. Even though toilets are available, the drainage flows directly into the river, while the river water is used as a source of activity for residents, including as a children's playground," it continued.

Based on Kemenkes data, in 2021, polio immunization coverage for infants in Aceh only reached 50.9% of the total live births in the province, which amounted to 101,520.

Polio immunization coverage for infants in Aceh was the second lowest nationally. The lowest coverage was in West Papua, at only 43.4% of the total 19,200 live births in 2021.

The next lowest provinces were West Sumatra, at 61%, and Papua at 61.5%. The province with the highest polio immunization coverage was South Sulawesi, at 96.7%.

Of the 34 provinces, 19 had polio immunization coverage below the national average of 80.7%. The other 15 provinces were above the average. Data on polio immunization coverage in Yogyakarta Special Region is unavailable because it is filled with the 3rd dose of IPV immunization.