Ilustrasi. Foto: Freepik.com.
Jakarta: Indonesia’s Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) has reported 10,301 confirmed cases of measles as of mid-March 2026. The data includes 13,046 suspected cases, with eight deaths reported, and 54 outbreaks occurring across 37 districts and cities in 13 provinces. Measles remains a significant public health concern globally, and outbreaks can be particularly dangerous for young children and those with compromised immune systems.
“The number of suspected measles cases increased in January and began to decline throughout February 2026. As of the eighth week of this year, more than ten thousand suspected cases of measles have been recorded. The government continues to respond quickly to prevent wider transmission,” said Dr. Andi Saguni, Acting Director General of Disease Control at the Ministry of Health, in an official statement quoted by Media Indonesia on Monday, March 23, 2026.
Despite the downward trend since late February, Dr. Andi emphasized the importance of public vigilance. As a preventative measure, the government is accelerating the implementation of Outbreak Response Immunization (ORI) and Catch-Up Measles-Rubella (MR) immunization programs in affected and at-risk areas.
This immunization program is being offered free of charge in 102 districts and cities, primarily targeting children aged 9 to 59 months. Services are being provided at various strategic locations to ensure accessibility, including health centers, Posyandu (integrated health posts), schools (kindergartens/early childhood education centers), places of worship, and even at Lebaran (Eid al-Fitr) homecoming service posts.
Ilustrasi. Foto: Dok. Medcom.id/Istimewa.
The government assures a safe and sufficient national stock of MR vaccines. The vaccines used have undergone rigorous evaluation and have received marketing authorization from the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (Badan POM), ensuring they are safe, high-quality, and effective in protecting children from the risks of measles and rubella.
The public is urged to immediately take their children to the nearest health facility to receive immunization protection, especially given the high mobility of people during this period in March.
