Lawmakers push faster immunization amid measles surge

 A member of Commission IX of the House of Representatives, Nurhadi, has called on the government to accelerate and equalize national immunization coverage following a rise in measles cases that has placed Indonesia second globally in terms of outbreaks of the disease.

According to Nurhadi, accelerating measles immunization must be prioritized to prevent the risk of wider outbreaks, particularly in areas with low vaccination coverage.

He stressed that the 95 percent immunization coverage target is not merely an administrative figure, but the threshold required to establish herd immunity.

“The 95 percent immunization coverage target is not merely an administrative figure, but the threshold to establish herd immunity. If there are areas with low coverage, that is where outbreaks can emerge, and children are the most vulnerable,” he said in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He emphasized that measles is a vaccine-preventable disease. Therefore, the increase in cases indicates that national immunization coverage has not yet reached the minimum 95 percent target evenly across all districts and cities.

Nurhadi said that accelerating immunization efforts must be accompanied by a comprehensive evaluation. He highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a decline in routine immunization coverage that has yet to fully recover.

Inequality in access to health services in remote and archipelagic areas, as well as the spread of misinformation about vaccines, has also affected immunization achievements.

The House of Representatives, he added, will push the Ministry of Health to speed up immunization nationwide, strengthen the surveillance system, and ensure a rapid response to any potential outbreak.

“We will also ensure that vaccine distribution and health workers are evenly deployed to all regions. The 95 percent target must be achieved not only nationally, but evenly in every district and city,” he said.

He underlined that stronger coordination between the central and regional governments is essential, as the success of the immunization program largely depends on implementation at the regional level.

Nurhadi stressed that accelerating immunization is not merely about global rankings, but a reflection of the state’s commitment to protecting the health and future of Indonesia’s children.

Highly contagious disease

Measles, also known as rubeola, is a highly contagious acute infectious disease caused by a virus from the Paramyxovirus family. It is not just a common rash, but a serious illness that can be fatal, especially for infants and young children.

The disease spreads through respiratory droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks, which are then inhaled by others.

The virus can remain in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours. Symptoms typically appear 10 to 14 days after exposure. An infected person can transmit the virus from four days before the rash appears until four days afterward.

Measles symptoms develop gradually, beginning with a prodromal stage characterized by high fever, cough, runny nose, and red or watery eyes, known as conjunctivitis.

Koplik spots, which are small white spots inside the cheeks, may then appear, followed by a red rash that starts on the face and neck before spreading to the rest of the body. Additional symptoms may include diarrhea, fatigue, and sore throat.

As of mid-2025, Indonesia is facing a serious threat from a surge in measles outbreaks. Outbreaks have spread across 42 districts and cities in 14 provinces, including reported cases in Jakarta and Tangerang. As of August 2025, a total of 23,128 suspected measles cases had been recorded nationwide, with 3,444 confirmed positive cases.

The main cause of the surge is declining immunization coverage, particularly incomplete basic immunization and low uptake of the second dose of the measles-rubella vaccine.

The government has therefore urged the public to complete measles-rubella immunization. The first dose is administered at nine months of age, followed by a second dose at 15 to 18 months.