The Importance of the DHF Vaccine for Children

Dengue Fever is a disease caused by the dengue virus, transmitted through the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. This disease is a serious public health concern in tropical countries, including Indonesia. According to data from the Indonesian Ministry of Health, dengue cases tend to increase during the rainy season when the mosquito population grows. Children are particularly vulnerable to this disease, making dengue vaccination a crucial step in protecting them.

Children infected with the dengue virus can experience various symptoms, ranging from high fever, muscle pain, nausea, to severe complications such as Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) or Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF). These complications can lead to internal bleeding, organ failure, and even death if not treated promptly and properly.

In addition to health impacts, dengue fever imposes psychological and financial burdens on families. Children who fall ill often require intensive hospital care, which can be costly. Therefore, prevention is a more effective approach than relying solely on treatment after infection.

Dengue vaccines are developed to protect individuals from infections caused by four different types of the dengue virus. Currently, the vaccine approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and available in Indonesia is Dengvaxia. This vaccine works by boosting the immune system against the dengue virus, thereby reducing the risk of severe symptoms and complications in infected individuals.

Dengue vaccination for children offers several key benefits:

1. Reducing the Risk of Severe Infection Vaccination can prevent the development of severe symptoms in children infected with the dengue virus. This is essential to lower the morbidity and mortality rates caused by dengue fever.

2. Alleviating Public Health Burden With fewer dengue cases, hospitals and healthcare facilities will not be overwhelmed during outbreaks. This also helps reduce healthcare costs borne by the government and the community.

3. Improving Children’s Quality of Life Protected children can remain active and healthy, enabling them to participate in learning and play activities without disruption from illness.

Although dengue vaccines are available, their adoption in communities remains relatively low. This is due to a lack of understanding about the importance of vaccination and concerns about vaccine side effects. Therefore, educating parents and communities is essential.

Clear information about the safety and efficacy of vaccines should be provided by healthcare professionals. Moreover, the government and relevant organizations need to enhance awareness campaigns on the importance of vaccination as part of dengue prevention efforts.

Vaccination is not the only method to prevent dengue fever. Other preventive measures, such as maintaining environmental cleanliness, eliminating stagnant water that serves as mosquito breeding grounds, and using mosquito nets and repellents, must also be implemented. Combining vaccination with these preventive actions will provide maximum protection for children. If Friends of Hermina want a dengue fever vaccine, Hermina Purwokerto Hospital provides services for this vaccine.

 Access to registration can be done in the following 4 ways:
1. Download the mobile application on Playstore (Type Hello Hermina)
2. Call Call Center 1500488
3. Via website -> www.herminahospitals.com
4. Via the Mobile JKN application

Reference :

1. World Health Organization. (2023). Dengue and severe dengue. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dengue-and-severe-dengue
2. Indonesian Ministry of Health. (2023). Dengue prevention and control program. Retrieved from https://www.kemkes.go.id
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Dengue vaccine: What you need to know. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/prevention/vaccine.html