Indonesia introduced primary prevention of cervical cancer (CC) via HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccination for 11-12-year-old girls in 2016 through a demonstration program. Following high uptake in the demonstration program, Indonesia announced plans for national scale-up in 2023. Prior research has indicated persistent inequities in childhood vaccination coverage in Indonesia, particularly for children from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. This paper explores policy implementers’ views on assets and challenges that can inform HPV vaccination scale-up to achieve more equitable coverage and promote more comprehensive CC education.

Between 2019 and 2021, nineteen key informants in Jakarta and Yogyakarta, were interviewed. Study findings include that high parental awareness, supportive school communities, and local stakeholder engagement are key assets in supporting high vaccination uptake. Conversely, barriers to achieving equitable coverage and sustaining high uptake included rising vaccine hesitancy, lack of human resources, lack of consistent community health education, and failure to prioritise vaccination for out-of-school girls.