JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Indonesia can begin inoculating COVID-19 vaccine for children immediately to prevent them from the coronavirus, President Joko Widodo said on Monday.
Widodo said in a video statement that the national agency of drug and food control (BPOM) has issued an authorization for the emergency use of Sinovac vaccine, which is declared safe for children aged 12 to 17, so vaccination for children within the age group can begin immediately.
Since the entry of the more contagious Delta variant, the number of Indonesian children infected with COVID-19 has increased to 12.5 percent, according to data provided by the Indonesian Pediatrician Association.
On Sunday, BPOM allowed the use of the COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 12 to 17 years old at a medium dose.
As of Monday, Indonesia has inoculated a total of 40,349,049 doses of the COVID-19 vaccines.