Tangerang, Indonesia – Health officials are urging parents to ensure their children are fully vaccinated against measles as cases rise across Indonesia, including a notable increase in the city of Tangerang. The surge in infections has prompted local governments and health organizations to launch campaigns aimed at boosting immunization rates and preventing further spread of the highly contagious disease.
According to data from the Tangerang City Health Office, a significant proportion of recent cases have occurred in children who have not completed their measles vaccinations. Measles is a serious illness that can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia, diarrhea, and encephalitis (brain inflammation), particularly in individuals with weakened immune systems. “Imunization is the most effective step to prevent transmission and protect children from the more severe impacts of the disease,” stated Dini Anggraeni, Head of the Tangerang City Health Office, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
The Indonesian Pediatric Society (IDAI) has also issued recommendations for a comprehensive strategy to address the growing measles problem nationwide. As of the seventh week of 2026, the country has recorded 8,224 suspected cases, 572 confirmed cases, and four deaths. In 2025 alone, there were 63,769 suspected cases, with 11,094 confirmed and 69 fatalities. Indonesia currently ranks second globally for the highest number of measles cases, trailing only Yemen and surpassing India, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in February 2026.
“This emergency situation requires extraordinary steps from all stakeholders,” said Piprim Basarah Yanuarso, Chairman of the Indonesian Pediatric Society, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. IDAI’s six recommendations include accelerating immunization efforts, ensuring children aged 9 months to under 15 years receive any missed measles and rubella vaccinations, and verifying that healthcare workers are fully immunized with MR/MMR vaccines.
In response to the increasing cases, the Tangerang City Government is implementing a “Catch Up Campaign” to provide free measles vaccinations for children aged 9-59 months at local health centers and community health posts (posyandu). Health Minister Budi Gunawan Sadikin is also accelerating immunization efforts nationwide before the upcoming Lebaran (Eid al-Fitr) holiday. Free measles and rubella vaccinations are being offered in Jakarta.
Health officials are stressing the importance of vaccination, not only to protect individual children but also to prevent outbreaks and safeguard public health. The current situation underscores the ongoing challenges in maintaining high immunization coverage and the need for continued vigilance to combat preventable diseases.
