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etting jabbed in the arm or the behind with a needle for an immunization may sound like something from your childhood, but doctors say it is time for Indonesian adults to have the vaccinations they need.

The Indonesian Internists Association (PAPDI) has called for adults in the country to be immunized as they are 100 times more likely to die from vaccine-preventable diseases than children.

Doctor Samsuridjal Djauzi, head of the PAPDI’s adult vaccinations taskforce, quoted a survey that shows that around 20,000 people, mostly senior citizens, in the US die each year from the common flu.

“Regular types of influenza can easily be prevented by vaccines,” he said Saturday.

The problem is, he said, people’s awareness on the importance of adult vaccinations was still lower than expected.

“In Indonesia, most people still think that vaccines are only for babies and children and that adults don’t need to be vaccinated because their immune systems are fully developed,” he said.

Adults, however, still need certain vaccinations to prevent them from catching infectious diseases.

“Those more than 60 years old have a higher need for vaccine shots because [at] that age their immune systems begin deteriorating,” he said.

When adults are vaccinated, he added, it also benefits their community as it prevents the spread of disease.

“Vaccinations will also contribute to social and economic development, by reducing treatment and hospital costs and decreasing episodes of permanent disabilities and plagues,” he added.

Doctor Johny Sulistio, a senior medical advisor for consumer goods giant PT Unilever Indonesia, said vaccinating every employee in the company had proven to be a lot more economical than having to pay for ongoing hospital costs.

“We had a staffer who was infected with tetanus [during the Jakarta flood] in 2002. The treatment cost Rp 14 million [US$1,500]. At that time we had around 2,800 employee and vaccinations cost Rp 1,000 each. It would have been a lot cheaper if I had paid to have everyone vaccinated [against tetanus],” he said.

Samsuridjal urges the government to consider the benefits of adult vaccinations and make a national program to have all adults in the country immunized.

Poor public awareness on the importance of adult vaccinations, however, has resulted in poor access to such services, he went on.

“Doctors and health workers already have the skills to perform adult vaccinations, but most
don’t have the vaccines,” he said.

Samsuridjal said his team was also working to have adult vaccinations expenses covered in the Askes health insurance program run by state-enterprise PT Askes.


Adult vaccinations available in Indonesia

• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis A
• Tetanus
• Mumps, Measles, Rubella (MMR)
• Typhoid
• Influenza
• Pneumococcal
• Meningococcal