Overview of Indonesia’s ageing landscape
Indonesia’s population is rapidly ageing, with the number of people aged 65 and above growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.8% over the next decade to reach 27.4 million people, equivalent to 9.2% of its projected population. By 2050, 16% of its population is projected to comprise of people aged 65 and above, resulting in the old-age dependency ratio increasing from 10.6 old-age persons per 100 working-age persons to 27.3 old-age persons per 100 working-age persons.[i]
Tracking the progress of Indonesia’s healthy ageing and life-course immunisation agenda
While Indonesia does not have a national adult immunisation programme, vaccines such as the influenza vaccine is recommended to older adults, adults with underlying chronic diseases, Hajj pilgrims, and health care workers. For older adults this recommendation will help the prevention of complications and hospitalisations, as approximately 50% of pneumonia cases within the elderly population is triggered by flu in Indonesia.[ii] Currently, the uptake of life-course immunisation in Indonesia remains low – for example, the uptake rate of the influenza vaccine is approximately 1%, well below the recommended 75% by the World Health Organization.
Key challenges and solutions
Recognising the importance of life-course immunisation
While Indonesia does not yet have a national adult immunisation programme, the country has issued recommendations on protecting vulnerable populations from vaccine-preventable diseases such as influenza. However, more needs to be done to recognise the impact of these diseases and the urgency to further protect vulnerable populations.
Financing immunisation across the life-course
Without a national adult immunisation programme, vaccines are financed entirely out-of-pocket for older adults, posing a significant financing barrier for many families.
Materials
Overview References:
[i] United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2019). World Population Prospects 2019, Online Edition. Rev. 1.
[ii] Ipsos, “Flu in Indonesia: Insights into Perception and Action on Vaccination,” 12 February 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.ipsos.com/en-sg/flu-indonesia-insights-perception-and-action-vaccination.