Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy, has appealed to the community to be wary of hoaxes linking mysterious acute hepatitis cases with COVID-19 vaccination.
“On social media, hoaxes related to children’s vaccinations (and acute hepatitis) have spread. If not handled, this will be counterproductive,” he said in a press release issued here on Friday.
Effendy further said that he is concerned about the issue because the government is currently focusing on administering COVID-19 vaccines to children to protect them from the coronavirus.
Related news: Gov't conducts epidemiological investigation over acute hepatitis
As of Tuesday (May 3, 2022), at least 16,623,197 children aged 6 to 11 years, or around 62.97 percent of the targeted 26,400,300 children, have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in the country.
The government is also aiming to inoculate 26,705,490 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years. At least 81.19 percent of the targeted group has received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Touching upon cases of acute hepatitis, he said he is hopeful that the Ministry of Health will swiftly carry out preventive and curative efforts to handle the disease.
"I think we are more proactive in conducting large-scale sweeps in every area to ensure that acute hepatitis has not spread. Even if it has spread, it can also be detected early and can be treated," he added.
Related news: Minister encourages extensive mapping of mysterious hepatitis
Earlier, the Ministry of Health had increased vigilance against a mysterious form of acute hepatitis that is affecting children in several countries.
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said that vigilance had been increased on account of the deaths of three children undergoing treatment for suspected acute hepatitis at the Dr. Ciptomangunkusuma Hospital, Jakarta. They died at different times in the two weeks till April 30, she informed.
The symptoms exhibited by the three patients included nausea, vomiting, severe diarrhea, fever, jaundice, seizures, and decreased consciousness, she said.
Related news: Health facilities strengthened to tackle acute hepatitis in children
Related news: No acute hepatitis cases in East Java: official
