Indonesia, China Develop Worlds's First mRNA Dengue Vaccine

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia and China are strengthening research collaboration to develop the world's first messenger RNA (mRNA)-based dengue vaccine as part of efforts to advance health innovation and strengthen Indonesia's domestic vaccine industry.

As quotd by the official website of Indonesia's Ministry of Health, the collaboration was marked by the launch of a prototype mRNA-based tetravalent dengue vaccine, jointly developed by University of Indonesia, Tsinghua University (Tiongkok), and PT Etana Biotechnologies Indonesia in Jakarta on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said the vaccine's development represents an important milestone for Indonesia's research and vaccine industry. According to him, if successfully developed, it has the potential to become the world's first mRNA vaccine for dengue fever.

"If this succeeds, it will become one of the new vaccines produced in Indonesia using the most advanced technology. We should be grateful to Indonesian researchers who have reached the same level as researchers around the world," Budi said.

He explained that the vaccine development is part of the government's efforts to strengthen health self-reliance following the COVID-19 pandemic. Indonesia currently has four vaccine manufacturers: Bio Farma, Biotis, PT Etana Biotechnologies Indonesia, and JBio.

Of the 16 antigens required for the national routine immunization program, Indonesia is currently able to produce 11 locally, with five of them manufactured independently from upstream research and seed development to full-scale production.

"My target is that before 2030, we should be able to produce the remaining 11 antigens entirely from upstream to downstream," Budi said.

As part of this effort, the government has identified dengue as a priority for vaccine development due to the country's high disease burden. According to the Ministry of Health, Indonesia records approximately 151,000 dengue cases and around 650 related deaths each year, making vaccine development an important component of the country's dengue control efforts.

"We prioritize the development of new vaccines based on the highest disease burden and mortality rates. Parents certainly do not want their children to receive too many different vaccines, so we focus on those that are truly a priority," Budi added.