You Won't Believe How Indonesia's Immunization Workforce Just Hit a Shocking Crisis Point!

In the pursuit of achieving high and equitable immunization coverage in Indonesia, a significant challenge has been identified: the lack of trained immunization officers. A 2025 assessment revealed that up to 37% of primary healthcare centers, known as puskesmas, were operating without any trained immunization officers. Furthermore, more than half of the over 10,000 immunization officers reported a lack of accredited training. Factors such as staff turnover, financial constraints, and the geographical distance of training facilities have exacerbated this issue. Additionally, training opportunities are often reserved for civil-servant officers, leaving a substantial gap in the workforce.

In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) has intensified its efforts to bolster the capacity of immunization personnel within the country. As part of its ongoing support for the Indonesian Ministry of Health, WHO developed a focused and sustainable training model in 2025. This included a week-long training program tailored for immunization managers, which replaced the previous unsustainable two-week format. The new structure emphasizes the practical needs of implementation at the local level. Additionally, a three-day training program was introduced specifically for vaccinators, further facilitating skill development in the field.

To enhance accessibility and reduce costs, WHO incorporated online components into both training programs, enabling a blended learning approach. A new evaluation tool was also introduced to measure the application of learned skills in real-world settings, addressing a critical gap in Indonesia’s training framework, which had previously relied solely on pre- and post-tests.

Accompanying these educational initiatives, WHO produced short, easy-to-use video job aids designed to support the quality of routine immunization delivery. These resources aim to provide practical assistance to health workers on the ground, ensuring a more robust and effective immunization process.

WHO's commitment extends beyond initial training. In 2025, the organization conducted additional training sessions focusing on adverse events following immunization (AEFI) surveillance for provincial officers, following similar sessions for their national-level colleagues. This series of training sessions is part of WHO Indonesia’s strategic support as the country aims to achieve WHO-Listed Authorities status for its vaccines.

Moreover, WHO has been actively involved in training over 1,000 health staff across more than five provinces, emphasizing the importance of life-cycle immunization and the surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases and AEFI. By equipping healthcare professionals with the necessary skills, these efforts are expected to enhance the overall immunization landscape in Indonesia.

The ongoing partnership with WHO not only advances Indonesia’s commitment to improving immunization rates but also aligns with the Immunization Agenda 2030 and national objectives focused on the elimination of measles and rubella, as well as polio eradication. WHO understands that health workers are the cornerstone of successful immunization programs, and as such, the organization continues to invest in their training and development.

This initiative is further supported by GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, underscoring the collaborative effort to ensure that Indonesia can achieve its health goals and fulfill the population's right to health.