JAYAPURA - The Papua Provincial Government plans to provide free rotavirus vaccines for Jayapura residents starting in February 2023.

This aims to avoid diarrhea caused by rotavirus infection for children.

"Rotavirus vaccines are very rare and expensive, because they used to only exist in private doctors. But now it is included in the national immunization program so that it becomes free for Jayapura residents. For this reason, we hope that this program can be put to good use and not be afraid," said the Head of Disease Prevention and Control of the Papua Health Office, Arinius Weya, in Jayapura, Tuesday.

According to him, for now the program is only valid in Jayapura City. For him, he hopes that parents can take advantage of the immunization.

"This rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea that can cause dehydration and can even cause death in children".

"The administration of the rotavirus vaccine is very important to be given to children starting from the age of 2-4 months. And now only two areas have become pilot projects, Jayapura and Merauke," he said.

Meanwhile, the person in charge of the immunization program in Papua, Yasman said that there were 600 vials of vaccines that had been sent from the center. It has been sent to Jayapura and Merauke cities and will be distributed to vaccine service units such as public health centers or integrated services posts.

"So for the people of Jayapura City, we hope to take advantage of this free opportunity and don't be fooled by the fake news circulating because the rotavirus vaccine is safe and very beneficial for children," he said. ***