13% of COVID-19 sufferers in Indonesia are children.

Not only adults, but also children can be infected with the corona virus Covid-19. In fact, the Covid-19 Handling Task Force recorded that 13% of corona sufferers were children aged 18 years and below as of November 2, 2021.

Specifically, 10.1% of corona sufferers were children aged 6-18 years. Meanwhile, 2.9% of corona sufferers were children aged 0-5 years.

Based on this, children are also given the Covid-19 vaccine. The National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) has approved the use of the Sinovac vaccine for children aged 6 to 11 years.

This vaccine is given in two doses (600 SU or 0.5mL/dose). The interval between doses for children is four weeks.

BPOM explained that the Sinovac vaccine is safe to use because it has mild to moderate side effects, as shown by clinical trials on 1,050 children in China. Furthermore, the results of the neutralizing antibody test observation 28 days after the second vaccine dose showed seropositive rates and seroconversion rates approaching 10%.

BPOM has also approved vaccination for children aged 12 to 17 years. Vaccination in children is important because face-to-face learning has begun, making children increasingly at risk of contracting Covid-19.

Besides vaccines, corona prevention can be done by implementing the 3M health protocol. This protocol consists of wearing a mask, maintaining distance, and washing hands with soap.