Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Starting January 2022, the Indonesian Ministry of Health will prioritize the injection of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine only for the group of children aged between 6 and 11 years old, the ministry’s spokesperson for COVID-19 vaccination, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said here on Monday (Dec. 13).

Nadia said that currently only Sinovac has obtained an emergency use authorization from the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) for COVID-19 vaccination aged 6-11 years old.

Meanwhile, the ministry’s acting director general for disease prevention and control Maxi Rein Rondonuwu said vaccines other than Sinovac would be used for people excluded from the group of children aged 6-11 years old.

"Starting next year, Sinovac is only for ages 6-11 years old. Other vaccines available in Indonesia are prioritized for other groups," Maxi said when delivering a press statement on Sunday (Dec. 12).

Maxi said the COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 6 to 11 years old would start on Tuesday (Dec. 14) with the number of vaccination targets reaching over 26.8 million based on the 2020 census data.

Formerly, the Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI) had issued recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 6-11 years old.

Reporting by Indonesia Window