Covid 19:1. Pandemic Adds to Routine Vaccination Concerns/Silkina Ahluwalia/Jakarta Pkg

Covid 19:1. Pandemic Adds to Routine Vaccination Concerns/Silkina Ahluwalia/Jakarta PkgCommissioned: BJ-GN/AT-Confirmed

Assigned: Oct. 7 Joey/CE Guo Yuhua

ETA: TBC

Air Date: TBC

Pitch: Almost one third of Indonesian parents and caregivers are doubtful about taking their children for routine immunizations during the COVID-19 pandemic for fear of contracting the coronavirus, a recent survey has found. The survey, carried out by the Health Ministry in collaboration with UNICEF, collected responses online from nearly 7,000 parents and caregivers of children under the age of 2 in 34 provinces. The survey found that only half of the respondents had taken their children for routine immunizations in the past two months. Prior to the pandemic, resistance to immunizations had already increased in Indonesia, and this was exacerbated by vaccine doubts during the pandemic. The survey also showed a “significant shift” in parents and caregivers’ behavior in seeking immunization services. The Health Ministry’s disease control and prevention director general, Achmad Yurianto, said public health facilities should remain open and safe during the pandemic, and called on parents not to delay giving immunizations to their children. UNICEF argued that investment in safe immunization and expanding the outreach of health services were important and urgent in order to ease parents’ doubts. “During the pandemic, children must be protected against diseases that can be prevented by immunizations. We must do everything we can so that all children throughout the country can continue to receive this important service,” UNICEF representative said.

Elements: Interview with parents who refuse to vaccinate their children, Interview with medical expert, shots of the parents with their children, footage of COVID-19 in Indonesia, etc.