JAKARTA, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) — The Qurrota A’yun Integrated Islamic Preschool in Sumenep, Indonesia’s East Java province, launched a measles vaccination drive for its 202 pupils on Thursday, in cooperation with the local community health center and the Ministry of Health.
“This is a preventive step after around 30 children contracted measles in mid-June, with several hospitalized,” school principal Muthi’ah Fithriyahwati told Xinhua. Although all the children have since recovered, she stressed that vaccination is vital to prevent a recurrence.
More than 100 parents attended the event in the morning, where pediatricians explained the importance of immunization, nutrition, and hygiene.
“Some parents were still hesitant, but eventually agreed after receiving clear explanations,” Muthi’ah said. Despite a few tears as syringes appeared, the atmosphere remained largely supportive.
The activity is part of the government’s nationwide outbreak response immunization campaign, running from Aug. 25 to Sept. 12, which targets 73,969 children aged nine months to six years across multiple provinces.
The campaign follows a surge of more than 23,000 suspected measles cases reported between January and August 2025, including over 3,400 confirmed cases. Sumenep has recorded the highest number with 2,268 suspected cases, resulting in 20 deaths.
“We hope transmission stops within the next two weeks, the numbers do not rise further, and there are no more deaths from measles,” Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said. He noted that the government has prepared 11,000 vials of vaccines to help curb the outbreak, as measles carries a relatively high fatality rate.
According to Prima Yosephine, director of immunization at the Ministry of Health, the outbreak is linked to a decline in routine immunization coverage, which dropped from 92 percent in 2018 to 87.8 percent in 2023.
“This decline has contributed to rising cases, from 4,800 in 2022 to more than 10,600 in 2023. The figure briefly fell in 2024, but surged again in January-August 2025 to over 3,400 confirmed cases across 46 areas,” she explained.
Coverage for the measles-rubella vaccine remains well below the 95 percent herd immunity threshold, with the first dose reaching 92 percent and the second only 82.3 percent.
The ministry warns that measles can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia, acute diarrhea, encephalitis, and Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis, a fatal neurological disorder that may emerge years after infection.
Ellya Fardasah, head of Sumenep’s Health Office, reported that most local patients were toddlers and young children, with 53 percent aged 1-4 years and 29 percent aged 5-9.
Piprim Basarah, chairman of the Indonesian Pediatricians’ Association, underscored the urgency. “Measles is far more contagious than COVID-19. One patient can infect 12-18 others, compared to COVID’s 8-10,” he said. “Because of its very high transmission rate, measles vaccination coverage must exceed 95 percent to achieve community protection.”
He added that, beyond preventing infectious disease, routine immunization also helps reduce the risk of stunting caused by repeated chronic infections. “With coverage above 95 percent, measles transmission chains can be cut off, and Indonesia can reinforce its public health defenses,” Piprim noted. ■