It was just the start of the month, yet, Tzu Chi Primary School’s clinic was so packed with students, even some of them were seen crying. Was there an outbreak? Fortunately, no one was ill and in fact, to prevent such outbreaks from happening, a total of 231 students from P1, P2, and P5 were just getting their vaccinations done. 

With the assistance from Penjaringan Community Health Center’s (Puskesmas) nurse and midwives, P1 students received Measles and Rubella (MR) Vaccine on Monday, September 2, 2019, followed by P2 and P5 students received Tetanus and Diphtheria (Td) Vaccine on the next day. 

‘Students in P1 who are just started, would be exposed to a large number of people, and diseases like measles are easily contagious through the air, so it is important for kids to get vaccinated,’ said Ms Fanny Mustikaningtyas, Nurse at Tzu Chi Primary Clinic.

Similar statements also came from Ms Reni Sugiharti, Nurse of Penjaringan, ‘Vaccination is important, since one case of tetanus or diphtheria, could cause a major outbreak. Vaccination also helps to build and improve a child’s immune system, as recommended by the government.

As advised by the Indonesian Health Ministry, are assigned to provide vaccination at public and private primary schools in their area. ‘For public school, every kid must be vaccinated, it’s compulsory. However, for private school, we make it as an optional programme since I know some students may have received their vaccinations from private medical centers. As long as everyone in the school is vaccinated, it’s fine,’ said Ms Sugiharti.