Commemorating World Hepatitis Day, Etana Intensifies Hepatitis A Vaccination
Without us realising it, health threats often lurk in the things closest to our daily lives. A glass of water that appears clear or a plate of delicious food at a favourite eatery sometimes harbours hidden risks that are rarely considered.
It is through these overlooked gaps in hygiene that infections such as hepatitis A can spread silently. Often dismissed as trivial because its symptoms resemble ordinary fatigue, this disease that attacks the liver actually deserves serious attention so that it does not lead to complications that disrupt our quality of life.
Recognising the importance of building collective awareness from an early stage, the issue of hepatitis prevention is once again being amplified through various initiatives that are close to the community. PT Etana Biotechnologies Indonesia (Etana) has organised a series of hepatitis A vaccination activities at a number of health education institutions and hospitals in Indonesia. Embracing a spirit of collaboration in the context of commemorating World Hepatitis Day, this programme has successfully reached hundreds of participants and is still ongoing to expand the scope of public health protection.
The series of education and vaccination activities began at the Faculty of Public Health, University of Indonesia, then continued to the Faculty of Medicine at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah, and extended to the Faculty of Pharmacy and the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing at Gadjah Mada University. The culmination of the series was centred at FK-KMK UGM in the form of a seminar combining in-depth discussion with concrete vaccination action.
Collaborating with students of the 2024 Doctoral Study Programme and the Department of Internal Medicine at FK-KMK UGM as part of community service, the event adopted the global theme of World Hepatitis Day, “Let’s Break It Down”. A total of 375 vaccine doses were successfully distributed specifically for the UGM academic community, ranging from lecturers and educational staff to students.
The age group of university students and young adults is in fact in a category that is quite vulnerable to hepatitis A transmission. Given that the transmission pattern of this virus generally originates from contaminated food and water, a campus environment with dense social activity certainly requires special attention. Moreover, clinically, hepatitis A infection in adults tends to produce far more severe symptoms than when it affects children. Therefore, the presence of a preventive programme in an academic setting is a highly relevant strategic step.
“The need for protection against hepatitis A is indeed real, and we believe that education and vaccination cannot be done alone. That is why Etana is always open to collaborating with anyone who shares the same concern, from hospitals, universities, professional organisations, sports communities, to regional governments,” said Indra Lamora, Director of the Anti-Infectious and Vaccine Business Unit at Etana, in a written statement received by Republika on Wednesday (12/8/2026).
This collaborative spirit was also warmly welcomed by the higher education sector. Campuses are no longer seen merely as places for transferring knowledge in the classroom, but also as centres for modelling healthy living for the wider community. The active role of educational institutions is believed to be capable of fostering long-term awareness to protect future generations from the threat of infectious diseases.
“Hepatitis remains a health problem that needs to be addressed in Indonesia, and campuses can play a role beyond being merely places of learning. Education serves as a form of modelling, and vaccines are a long-term investment to protect the next generation,” said Dr. dr. Sudadi, SpAn-TI, Subsp.N.An(K), Subsp.An.R(K), Vice Dean for Cooperation, Alumni, and Community Service at UGM.