JAKARTA – An Indonesian health official has addressed concerns following a recent report on an infant's death in Sukabumi, West Java, after receiving double immunization.
"Double immunization, administering recommended vaccines at one visit, is a safe practice," Prima Yosephine, the Director of Immunization Management at the Ministry of Health, said Sunday.
She emphasized that the national immunization program, including both routine and catch-up schedules, follows the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Double immunization is just as safe and effective as single immunization, she said.
Yosephine said multiple immunizations in one visit are crucial to protecting children from various diseases as early as possible.
"The amount of antigens in vaccines is minimal compared to what our bodies encounter daily, and it does not overburden the immune system," she pointed out.
A report from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) aligns with this, showing that receiving a combination of vaccines at once does not lead to chronic health problems.
Recommended vaccines are proven effective when combined or given individually. While some combinations might cause a temporary fever, this is a harmless side effect.
Yosephine also highlighted the benefits of double immunization, including faster protection for children, reduced anxiety and pain from fewer injections, and increased efficiency for health workers, who can then vaccinate more children and run other health programs.
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