Government Accelerates Teen Vaccination, Student Protection During Limited Face-to-Face Learning Strengthens

Kapanlagi.com - Implementation of Limited Face-to-Face Learning (PTM) continues to be encouraged by the government through educational units in areas with Enforcement of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) Level 1-3. The government asks schools and parents to supervise health protocols and ensure that children immediately receive vaccination to support this limited PTM.

"Vaccination for teenagers or the age group of 12-17 years must be accelerated because it is very important to provide protection and a sense of security in the implementation of limited PTM. It is expected that parents and schools can actively participate in encouraging vaccination for their children who are over 12 years old," said Minister of Communication and Information Technology Johnny G.Plate.

Percentage of Adolescents who have Received Covid-19 Vaccination

As of October 27, 2021, only about 14.5% of the targeted vaccination group of adolescents have received the first dose of vaccination, while complete vaccination has reached 11.7% of the target. In total, more than 115 million Indonesian citizens have received the first dose and 70 million of them have received the complete dose.

Minister Johnny stated that the acceleration of adolescent vaccination requires strong support from parents. Parents are expected to immediately accompany and assist their children in visiting vaccination centers or health service facilities to receive vaccination.

Vaccination Can Reduce the Risk of Severe Illness from Covid-19 Infection

According to Minister Johnny, vaccination has been proven to reduce the risk of severe illness if infected with the Covid-19 virus. He emphasized that the vaccines circulating in Indonesia are also safe and always under government supervision. Vaccination is considered very important to protect teenagers, especially when conducting limited face-to-face learning (PTM).

"Therefore, for all our younger siblings who are eligible, there is no need to hesitate to get vaccinated. With the protection from the vaccine, teenagers can minimize the risk of Covid-19 transmission, whether at school, during travel, or at home," said the Minister of Communication and Information.

The Importance of Limited Face-to-Face Learning for the Quality of Indonesian Education

The government has stated that limited face-to-face learning (PTM) needs to be implemented so that the future generation of the nation does not lose the quality of education. The government encourages schools in areas implementing PPKM Level 1-3 to carry out limited face-to-face learning, as stated by the Director of Elementary Schools at the Ministry of Education and Culture, Ristek Sri Wahyuningsih, in the Media Center FMB 9 - KPCPEN Dialogue, Tuesday (26/10/2021).

She also emphasized the importance of implementing health protocols for every education stakeholder, as one of the keys to the smooth implementation of limited face-to-face learning. Vaccination is not the sole protection. In line with that, the government also continues to encourage the public to remind and encourage children to always apply health protocols with discipline. The decrease in PPKM levels, the easing of community activities including the opening of limited face-to-face learning, is not a reason to relax health protocol discipline.

"Be vigilant, the threat of the COVID-19 virus is still there. Let's not open up the possibility of the next surge in cases," concluded Minister Johnny.

(kly/tmi)