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Learning about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the polio eradication efforts in Indonesia.
HOW YOU CAN USE THIS MATERIAL:
OVERVIEW:
Ensuring the high coverage of immunization and high performance of surveillance are essential to maintaining the Indonesia’s polio-free status. However, the negative impact of the pandemic on the polio eradication efforts has been unavoidable. The authors of this article aim to describe the impact of the pandemic on the polio eradication efforts in Indonesia and the strategies to maintain the polio-free status during the COVID-19 pandemic.
KEY MESSAGES
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Indonesia’s polio-free status as well as the 2023 global polio eradication target have been threatened by disruptions to immunization services caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and related restrictions.
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Fear of contracting COVID-19, human resource diversion, and travel restrictions posed barriers to delivering polio immunization services during the pandemic.
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To resume polio vaccination efforts and maintain polio-free status, Indonesia health authorities need to take action to:
- Maximize vaccine service reach by mapping children who have not been vaccinated and monitor the vaccine supply chain
- Integrate vaccine delivery with pandemic response efforts
- Mobilize communities for advocacy and education
- Adjust programs to address human resource, physical, and financial resource gaps
- Strengthen monitoring and evaluation and surveillance efforts