Indonesia Launches Measles Vaccination Campaign After Deadly Outbreak

Indonesia Launches Measles Vaccination Campaign After Deadly Outbreak
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Indonesian authorities have launched a mass measles vaccination campaign in the East Java province of Sumenep following an outbreak that has led to 17 deaths, primarily among unvaccinated children, Arab News reported. The campaign aims to immunize 78,000 children aged between 9 months and 6 years in an effort to contain the highly infectious disease.

The outbreak has infected over 2,000 children in East Java in the last eight months, with 16 of the 17 fatalities occurring in the Sumenep district. Health officials reported that 16 of the deceased patients had not been immunized, while one had not completed the full vaccine course. This outbreak underscores a persistent challenge in Indonesia, where vaccination coverage gaps have repeatedly led to the spread of the disease.

Previous outbreaks have occurred, including a major one in Papua in 2018. The country’s vaccination efforts have been complicated by past religious concerns; in 2018, the Indonesian Ulema Council stated that a measles and rubella vaccine contained pork, though its use was temporarily permitted until a halal alternative could be found.

According to Statistics Indonesia, only 72% of children under five received the measles vaccine last year, with rates in some provinces dropping below 50%. This falls significantly short of the 95% vaccination rate that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends to prevent outbreaks. Globally, the WHO notes that while 84% of children received their first dose of the measles vaccine last year, 60 countries still reported major outbreaks.

Officials are now urging residents and religious leaders to support the immunization drive.