Indonesia showcases community vaccine model to global delegations

2 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Ministry of Health and its partners held the VaxSocial Government Learning Exchange to strengthen vaccine confidence, with delegations from Nigeria, India, and global development partners visiting Kepodang A Posyandu in Depok.

The ministry’s Director of Immunization, Dr. Indri Yogyaswari, on Wednesday said that Kepodang A community health center (Posyandu) was selected as a learning site in recognition of Indonesia’s collaborative efforts to improve immunization coverage.

“Posyandu is at the heart of Indonesia’s public health services, providing integrated basic services such as maternal and child healthcare, growth monitoring, health education, and immunization. Its strength lies in active community participation and mutual cooperation,” she remarked.

The visit gave participants an opportunity to observe Indonesia’s community-based approach to immunization through Posyandu, health workers, and community health volunteers.

Dr. Indri said immunization is one of the most effective and cost-efficient ways to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases while building herd immunity to protect the wider community.

She acknowledged ongoing challenges, including misinformation, vaccine hesitancy, and limited access to immunization services, underscoring the need for sustained public education and communication efforts.

Meanwhile, Head of the Depok City Posyandu Development Team Siti Barkah Hasanah expressed appreciation for Depok’s selection as a host for the international learning forum.

She said collaboration among government agencies, healthcare workers, and communities is a key factor in increasing immunization coverage.

She also expressed hope that every child in Depok would receive complete immunization, adding that the city is committed to achieving its Depok Zero Dose target through collaborative efforts as part of preparations for the Golden Generation 2045 vision.

Depok has a population of around two million people and 1,083 Posyandu that serve as the frontline of community healthcare.

She added that the local government aims to replicate successful practices across all Posyandu to expand access to high-quality immunization services.