Global Campaign Highlights Respiratory Disease Threats to Adults

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Pfizer Indonesia, together with healthcare professionals, has launched the “For the Reasons that Matter” campaign to raise public awareness about adult respiratory health. The programme is being rolled out simultaneously in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines.

The campaign involves medical experts to educate the public on the impact of serious respiratory diseases—such as COVID-19, influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and pneumococcal disease—on quality of life, independence, and individuals’ ability to continue their daily roles and responsibilities.

With a population of more than 280 million, Indonesia is one of the world’s most populous countries and is entering a phase of population ageing. The number of elderly people aged 60 and above is projected to reach nearly 34 million by 2025, or about 12 per cent of the national population, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).

In this context, acute respiratory tract infections are the most commonly reported diseases in Indonesia, with more than 13 million cases recorded up to November 2025, according to the Ministry of Health. Meanwhile, BPJS Kesehatan funding for outpatient cases due to respiratory diseases ranges from Rp10 trillion to Rp13 trillion per year.

World Immunisation Week, observed during the last week of April, serves as a reminder that health protection knows no age limits. Serious respiratory diseases—such as influenza, RSV, COVID-19, and pneumococcal disease—are not merely issues for children.

For older age groups and individuals with certain health conditions, the impacts can extend beyond temporary illness. These diseases risk eroding independence and the quality of life that has been maintained. Moreover, respiratory illnesses often arrive unpredictably, without waiting for the right time, and do not always align with a person’s life plans.

“In our four markets, we see a clear gap between what adults expect for their health and the steps they take to maintain it. Many adults are very concerned about staying healthy, but conversations about respiratory health are often postponed until they feel urgent,” said Deborah Seifert, Cluster Lead for Pfizer in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines, in a statement on Tuesday (5/5/2026).

‘For the Reasons that Matter’ is presented to make these conversations more relevant, closer to everyday life, and to encourage real action. The campaign aims to help adults stay healthy, with healthcare professionals playing a key role in guiding those conversations.