Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes RI) stated that the monkey pox vaccine or monkeypox will be provided free of charge to the Indonesian people. However, currently the vaccine is being given to priority groups who have a high risk, namely perpetrators of same-sex relationships.

“(Monkey pox vaccination) is free. (Target recipients of the vaccine) are MSM groups or men who have sex with men with a history of risky sexual activity,” it said Head of the Indonesian Ministry of Health’s Communications and Public Services Bureau, dr. Siti Nadia Tarmizi to CNBC IndonesiaTuesday (24/10/2023).

According to a press release from the Indonesian Ministry of Health, the monkeypox vaccine will be given to 447 people starting today, Tuesday (24/10/2023).

Monkey pox vaccination will be carried out at the Carlo Clinic and Community Health Centers in the South Jakarta, Central Jakarta, East Jakarta and West Jakarta areas appointed by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Health Service (Dinkes).

Meanwhile, the monkey pox vaccine that will be given to the public is an imported vaccine produced by Bavarian Nordic, Denmark, with the trademark JYNNEOS packaging. single-dose. The vaccine will be given in two doses at an interval of four weeks or one month.

“Our Monkeypox vaccine stock is safe. Currently, 991 vials of Monkeypox vaccine have been distributed to the DKI Jakarta Provincial Health Office to meet the needs of the Monkeypox vaccination program which will start being given this October,” said the Director General of Disease Prevention and Control, Dr. Maxi Rein Rondonuwu, quoted Tuesday (24/10/2023).

Update on Monkey Pox Cases in Indonesia

Based on daily data as of Sunday (22/10/2023), the Indonesian Ministry of Health recorded an increase in confirmed cases of monkey pox in Indonesia, namely seven cases since it was first reported on October 13 2023 or 8 cases since it was first confirmed in August 2022.

According to Dr. Maxi, all cases of monkey pox were found in DKI Jakarta, namely one case came from Jatinegara, East Jakarta; one case in Mampang, South Jakarta; one case in Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta; two cases in Setiabudi, South Jakarta; one case in Grogol Petamburan, West Jakarta; and one case in Kembangan, West Jakarta.

The results of the Indonesian Ministry of Health’s investigation show that six out of a total of seven patients with monkeypox cases in Indonesia are people living with HIV (PLHIV), have a bisexual orientation, and engage in risky sexual behavior.

Data shows that all confirmed Monkeypox patients are men of reproductive age. Around 71 percent of confirmed patients are men aged 25-29 years and another 29 percent are men aged 30-39 years.

Is monkey pox a sexually transmitted disease?

Even though monkey pox is often experienced by men who are same-sex lovers, the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that monkey pox is not a sexually transmitted disease. However, this disease can be transmitted during sexual intercourse, such as:

• Oral, anal and vaginal sex or touching the genitals or anus of a person infected with monkey pox
• Hugging, massaging, kissing, or talking from very close range
• Touching fabrics and objects during sex that are used by monkeypox sufferers, such as bedding, towels and sex toys.

[Gambas:Video CNBC]

(hsy/hsy)