Accelerating the introduction of rotavirus immunization in Indonesia

Abstract

The introduction of the rotavirus vaccine in Indonesia is currently in its infancy. Delay in its development might be caused by factors related to the perceived value of the vaccine, health system characteristics and policy considerations. Other factors, which may also interfere with optimizing the introduction, are financial barriers because Indonesia is a lower-middle-income country. Creating fiscal space to finance new immunization programs, such as for the rotavirus immunization, is very important to ensure the sustainability of new programs so that such programs would be financed over the long term and not endanger the sustainability of the Indonesian government’s financial position. This article provides an illustration of the various steps needed to accelerate the introduction of the rotavirus immunization.

Keywords::

• costs
• immunization
• Indonesia
• rotavirus
• vaccine

Financial & competing interests disclosure

MJ Postma has received grants, honoraria and travel stipend from various pharmaceutical companies, including those interested in the subject matter of this paper. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Key issues

• Sustainability over the medium and long term are key issues in formulating a new health intervention.

• Financial factors play a key role in the introduction of new vaccines in all countries throughout the world for ensuring sustainable funding mechanisms and maintaining the optimal use of funds for existing vaccines and the broader healthcare services.

• Delay in the introduction of new vaccines in middle-income countries, such as Indonesia, may be attributed to multiple factors, such as perceived vaccine value, health system characteristics and policy considerations.

• Creating new fiscal space to finance new immunization programs, such as for the rotavirus immunization, is very important to ensure the sustainability of new programs so that such programs would be financed over the long term and not endanger the sustainability of the Indonesian government’s financial position.

Notes