Indonesia Launches World's First mRNA-Based Dengue Vaccine Prototype

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesia's Ministry of Health launched a prototype of the mRNA-based tetravalent dengue vaccine in Jakarta on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. This marks the world's first attempt to apply mRNA technology, previously known for its COVID-19 vaccine, to combat dengue fever.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, said this achievement proves that Indonesian researchers are on par with global researchers. "We must thank Indonesian researchers who have achieved the same level as global researchers," he said.

If successful, this vaccine will be the sixth antigen produced independently by Indonesia, from upstream to downstream. Based on the Ministry of Health data, dengue was chosen as a priority due to its high caseload, with around 151,000 cases and 650 deaths per year.

Health Minister Budi stated that the selection of priority vaccines took into account the highest incidence and mortality rates. "Mothers certainly don't want their children to be injected with too many types of vaccines, so we chose the ones that are truly a priority," he explained.

This vaccine is the result of collaborative research between the University of Indonesia, Tsinghua University in China, and PT Etana Biotechnologies Indonesia. This research also utilizes the preM-E gene genetic material from the native Indonesian dengue virus strain.

This project is part of the government's efforts to build a self-sufficient national vaccine industry, fueled by the painful experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Indonesia struggled to access vaccines, therapeutic tools, and diagnostics.

Minister of Health Budi targets the complete production of all 16 antigens required for routine national immunization programs from upstream to downstream by 2030. Currently, only 11 antigens are produced locally, and only five of these are truly independent.

This research collaboration was initiated in 2023, starting with a meeting facilitated by Deputy Minister Stella Christie, while she was still a professor, between a team of researchers from the University of Indonesia (UI) and Prof. Zhang Linqi of Tsinghua University, one of the world's leading vaccine experts. Stella affirmed that this collaborative model begins with concrete work, not simply the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU).