World Immunization Week – celebrated in the final week of April (24 to 30 April) – aims to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease. As 24 April approaches, the Indonesian Ministry of Health (MoH) has prepared a number of celebrations to commemorate the contributions of vaccination healthcare workers and the importance of childhood immunization.
The Indonesian World Immunization Week (WIW) theme for this year, “Imunisasi untuk Semua”, was adapted from the global 2020 theme “#VaccinesWork for All” and aims to address immunization inequality across the country. Given the current situation of the COVID-19 outbreak and the necessary physical distancing measures, Indonesia has modified this year’s WIW activities to be safely celebrated online.
On 15 April, the Ministry of Health launched a free-entry public photography competition to raise community interest in better understanding immunization services. The competition will accept images for seven days, with the winners announced on 27 April.
Caption: World Immunization Week 2020 photography competition poster. Credit: Ministry of Health
A series of SMS blasts are also being released to the public, containing key information and advice to complete routine immunizations.
To reach school age audiences in Indonesia, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Religious Affairs are including a topic on immunization during WIW as one of the online learning sessions for elementary grade students.
On 28 and 29 April, WHO will support two webinars with key speakers from MoH, Indonesia Pediatric Association, UNICEF, and WHO. The first webinar will focus on how to provide routine immunization services during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The second webinar will discuss Supplementary Immunization Activity strategies for poor performance areas, with a specific tailoring towards an audience of immunization officers and health workers.
The messages and activities of WIW will be amplified through a campaign conducted via both traditional and social media channels. The MoH are working closely with Indonesian media to promote the benefits of immunization through talk shows, media awards and engaging prominent bloggers to share WIW infographics and materials. Immunization partners and relevant private companies are also distributing WIW materials on their respective websites and/or social media pages to further boost community awareness on the importance of vaccination and how people may participate in the various WIW activities.
Immunization saves millions of lives every year, preventing child morbidity and mortality from vaccine preventable diseases such as measles and diphtheria. Immunization is widely recognized as one of the most successful and cost-effective health interventions available.
The 2020 WIW activities planned by MoH and partners will act as timely reminders on the importance of vaccinating all children and will highlight appreciation towards all vaccination healthcare heroes in Indonesia.
A recording of WHO's Facebook Live Q&A on immunizations can be viewed here: www.facebook.com/WHO/videos/251864196219809/
#VaccinesWork for All #ImunisasiUntukSemua #PastikanImunisasiLengkap #PekanImunisasiDunia
Caption: Posters advertising the World Immunization Week photography competition and webinar activities hosted in Indonesia. Credit: Ministry of Health
Main image caption: A young child receives a vaccine in Denpasar, Bali. Credit: WHO