Moms, did you know that every February and August is commemorated as Vitamin A Month in Indonesia? During these periods, children receive vitamin A supplementation to help meet their vitamin A needs. The supplementation can be provided through Posyandu as well as other healthcare facilities.
But what if Moms and Dads do not have time to take their little one to Posyandu? Don’t worry, because vitamin A can also be obtained through several other healthcare facilities. Before learning where to get it, let’s first understand the benefits, schedule, and dosage of vitamin A for children.
Benefits of Vitamin A for Children
Vitamin A is an essential nutrient that plays an important role in supporting a child’s growth and development, from infancy through childhood. This nutrient helps maintain healthy eyes and vision, including supporting the eyes’ ability to see under different lighting conditions.
Vitamin A also supports the immune system so that it can function properly in protecting the body from various disease-causing exposures. In addition, vitamin A helps maintain healthy skin and body tissues, including supporting the formation and maintenance of cells that continue to develop during the growing years.
During childhood, vitamin A also supports the development and maintenance of various body tissues, allowing the organs to function properly. Because of these various roles, children’s vitamin A needs should be met through a balanced diet and supplementation according to recommended public health programs.
Vitamin A Schedule and Dosage for Children
The vitamin A supplementation program for children is provided periodically during Vitamin A Month, which takes place in February and August. The dosage of the vitamin A capsule is adjusted according to the child’s age.
1. Blue Capsule (100,000 IU) for Infants Aged 6–11 Months
Infants aged 6–11 months receive a blue vitamin A capsule containing 100,000 IU. Under the supplementation program, infants in this age group receive vitamin A once, during either the February or August supplementation period, depending on their age and the program schedule in their area.
2. Red Capsule (200,000 IU) for Toddlers Aged 12–59 Months
Once a child reaches 12–59 months of age, they receive a red vitamin A capsule containing 200,000 IU. Unlike infants aged 6–11 months, children in this age group receive vitamin A twice a year, during the February and August supplementation periods.
How to Get Vitamin A Besides Posyandu
Posyandu is one of the common places where children receive vitamin A supplementation. However, if Moms and Dads cannot visit Posyandu, there are several other options available.
1. Nearby Healthcare Facilities
Moms and Dads can visit a Puskesmas, Pustu, Poskesdes, Polindes, hospital, or other healthcare facilities that participate in the vitamin A supplementation program.
Before visiting, it is best to contact the healthcare facility first to ask about the availability of vitamin A capsules and the supplementation schedule. This is important because program implementation may follow arrangements established in each region.
2. Doctors’ or Midwives’ Practices
Doctors’ or midwives’ practices can also be an option for obtaining information and services related to vitamin A. Parents can consult a doctor or midwife about their child’s vitamin A needs, especially if the child did not receive a capsule according to the Posyandu schedule.
A doctor or midwife can help ensure that vitamin A is given according to the child’s age and condition. Avoid giving high-dose vitamin A supplements independently without consulting a healthcare professional.
3. Educational Institutions
Some early childhood education centers, kindergartens, or other educational institutions may serve as locations for vitamin A supplementation if they collaborate with a Puskesmas or run certain health programs.
However, vitamin A is not automatically available at every school or educational institution. Moms and Dads can ask the school whether it has a partnership with a Puskesmas or a health program that includes vitamin A supplementation.
If vitamin A is not available, parents can take their child to a Puskesmas or another healthcare facility.
What If a Child Misses Their Vitamin A Supplementation?
Missing vitamin A supplementation once does not necessarily mean that a child will immediately develop vitamin A deficiency. However, if vitamin A needs are not met over a long period, children may face a higher risk of health problems, particularly those affecting their vision and immune system.
Long-term vitamin A deficiency can make the eyes more susceptible to problems such as night blindness or difficulty seeing in low-light conditions. Children may also become more vulnerable to infections because vitamin A plays an important role in maintaining immune system function.
This risk may be greater in children who have a less varied diet or have limited access to foods that are sources of vitamin A, such as fish, milk, and eggs. Therefore, missing a supplementation schedule should not simply be overlooked, especially if the child also rarely consumes nutritious foods containing vitamin A.
If Moms and Dads have just realized that their child has not received a vitamin A capsule, do not give an additional capsule or dose on your own to make up for the missed schedule. Instead, ask the Puskesmas or a healthcare professional when the child can receive the next dose and whether supplementation is still needed.
While confirming the supplementation schedule, Moms and Dads can also help meet their child’s vitamin A needs through everyday foods. Offer a varied diet, such as eggs, fish, liver, milk, as well as yellow, orange, or green fruits and vegetables as part of a balanced and nutritious diet.
Foods That Contain Vitamin A for Children
In addition to supplementation, children’s vitamin A needs can be supported through a balanced and nutritious diet. Some foods contain vitamin A directly, while others contain provitamin A, such as beta-carotene, which can be converted by the body into vitamin A.
Here are some food options that can be given according to the child’s age and stage of eating development:
Chicken or beef liver: a food source that is high in vitamin A.
Eggs: especially the yolk, which contains vitamin A.
Milk and dairy products: some dairy products contain or are fortified with vitamin A.
Carrots: contain beta-carotene, which can be converted into vitamin A.
Orange sweet potatoes: one of the sources of beta-carotene.
Spinach: a green vegetable that contains provitamin A.
Pumpkin: contains beta-carotene.
Mangoes: a fruit that contains provitamin A.
Papaya: another fruit option that contains beta-carotene.
These foods can help meet a child’s daily vitamin A needs as part of a balanced and nutritious diet. However, food intake does not automatically replace vitamin A capsules provided through public health supplementation programs. High-dose supplementation is given to certain age groups as part of a government health program, so Moms and Dads should continue to follow the recommended vitamin A supplementation schedule.
In addition, do not give additional vitamin A supplements indiscriminately. Excessive vitamin A intake can cause acute vitamin A toxicity, also known as hypervitaminosis A, in children. If Moms and Dads feel that their child needs additional supplementation, consult a doctor or healthcare professional first.
Conclusion
Vitamin A plays an important role in supporting children’s eye health, immune system, growth, and development. In Indonesia, high-dose vitamin A capsules are provided to infants and toddlers through the Vitamin A Month program every February and August.
Infants aged 6–11 months receive a blue capsule containing 100,000 IU, while children aged 12–59 months receive a red capsule containing 200,000 IU.
If your little one cannot receive vitamin A at Posyandu, Moms and Dads can inquire about vitamin A supplementation at a Puskesmas, nearby healthcare facility, doctors’ or midwives’ practices, or educational institutions that collaborate with a Puskesmas or have a health program.
If the supplementation schedule is missed, do not give an additional dose independently. Contact a healthcare professional to find out when and how your little one can receive vitamin A appropriately.
FAQ
1. Does my child need to receive vitamin A every day?
Not necessarily. Children’s vitamin A needs are met through their daily diet, while high-dose supplementation is provided periodically according to their age and the applicable health program.
2. Can vitamin A be given together with other medicines or supplements?
Giving vitamin A together with other medicines or supplements should be discussed with a healthcare professional first. This helps ensure that the dosage and combination of supplements are appropriate for the child.
3. Do babies under 6 months need to receive vitamin A capsules?
The vitamin A capsule supplementation program discussed in this article is intended for children aged 6–59 months. For babies under 6 months, their vitamin A needs should be determined based on their dietary intake and individual condition, according to the advice of a healthcare professional.
