BPOM Issues Approval for Use of Measles Vaccine in Adults
The government faces a policy dilemma with no truly comfortable option. The government faces a policy dilemma with no truly comfortable option.
Indonesia’s National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) has officially issued approval for the use of measles vaccine produced by PT Bio Farma for adults.
“BPOM officially announces the granting of a distribution permit number that expands the usage indication for PT Bio Farma’s measles vaccine to the adult age group at risk of measles infection,” said BPOM Head Taruna Ikrar during a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday (8/4).
“So previously for children, now we are expanding it to adults. This decision is taken as a strategic step to strengthen Indonesia’s health resilience,” he added.
Ikrar emphasised that the agency did not make the decision abruptly, as there are three reasons for granting the adult measles vaccine approval. First, BPOM conducted strategic consultations and sought technical input directly from the WHO. Second, it coordinated with experts and involved the National Drug Assessment Committee to obtain in-depth independent reviews. Third, it carried out strict evaluations of all existing vaccine clinical trials.
“Based on the results of these evaluations, effective from 7 April 2026, BPOM officially approves the use of PT Bio Farma’s measles vaccine for the adult age group at risk of measles infection,” he stated.
It is known that the currently available measles vaccine for children is in the form of the combined Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine and the combined Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine.
There are several measles-containing vaccines registered with BPOM, such as Priorix Tetra, and also Prequat. From all of them, the list containing measles, the availability in Indonesia also includes the dry measles vaccine, then the MR vaccine, Priorix, ProQuad, MMR2, and Priorix Tetra GSK.
“With the availability of the vaccine that has received approval, outbreaks (KLB) or endemic measles that have occurred can be immediately addressed,” he concluded.
The Indonesian Doctors Association (PAPDI) revealed that misinformation on social media has caused the 2025 measles vaccination coverage to drop drastically, far from the WHO’s 95% target.
PAPDI revealed that 8% of measles cases in Indonesia affect adults. See the causes of declining immunity and the importance of adult vaccination.
Measles has returned to attention after the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia warned that infants under 9 months are at very high risk of infection.
The cause of measles is not a new virus, but rather the declining vaccination coverage in recent years.
Deputy Minister of Health Dante Saksono Harbuwono emphasised that adult measles vaccination, such as for healthcare workers, requires efficacy studies from BPOM.