RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Health will increase measles and rubella (MR) immunization for preschool and kindergarten children beginning next week, in response to Australia's notification regarding measles cases among foreign nationals traveling to Indonesia.

"Therefore, we are improving routine immunizations and administering catch-up MR immunizations, particularly in places with inadequate coverage. We're doing that. Secondly, we are offering supplementary MR vaccines in locations that are going through an Extraordinary Event (KLB) in 2025–2026. This additional MR is a crash program," said Acting Director General of Disease Control at the Ministry of Health, Andi Saguni, in Jakarta on Thursday, February 26, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The ministry is collaborating with local administrations, key figures such as religious leaders, and professional organizations to spread knowledge about the importance of immunization in places where vaccine rejection rates are high and immunization rates are low.

In 2025, there were 116 laboratory-confirmed measles outbreaks (KLB) in 89 regencies/cities across 16 provinces. There were 63,769 suspected cases, including 11,094 laboratory-confirmed cases. The mortality rate was 0.1%, which is comparable to that of affluent nations experiencing measles, and there were 69 fatalities overall.

East Java, Banten, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh were the five provinces with the most measles outbreaks in 2025. In 2026, 21 potential measles outbreaks were reported in 17 regencies/cities in 11 provinces. Additionally, there were 13 measles outbreaks that were confirmed by labs in nine regencies/cities throughout six provinces.

He went on to say that as of week 7, there were 8,224 suspected cases, 572 of which were lab-confirmed. "The CFR (fatality rate) is 0.05 percent, which is less than the rate of 0.1 percent in developed nations, and four cases have resulted in death. We are doing better," he stated.

West Sumatra, followed by South Sumatra, Aceh, West Java, and Central Java, were the five provinces that experienced the highest number of epidemics in 2026. The Ministry of Health is also improving measles treatment and monitoring, which includes isolation, vitamin A and medication administration, and hospital readiness in the event of issues.

On the same occasion, Mulya Rahma Karyanti, Consultant for Infection and Tropical Diseases at the Department of Women and Children at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM), stated that measles is extremely contagious and infectious, with one infected child being able to spread the illness to up to 18 others.

The concern, she said, is if children with measles and rubella also spread the illness to expectant mothers. The child that the mother is carrying may be deformed if the mother is infected.

"Rubella can even result in blindness, cataracts, deafness, heart problems, and developmental delays. We already have the data, as we're collecting it. Additionally, measles can potentially lead to miscarriage in expectant mothers. Thus, a pregnant woman is very exposed," she said.

According to Mulya, measles can cause encephalitis, or inflammation of brain tissue, as well as pneumonia, diarrhea, and significant dehydration, all of which can compromise a child's immune system. With regular education, she expects that the rate of measles immunization coverage will rise above 95 percent. ***