Health Minister Accelerates Measles Immunisation Campaign Before Eid

Jakarta — Indonesia’s Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has announced that the government is targeting to achieve 95 per cent coverage of measles immunisation within 1-2 weeks before Eid 1447 Hijri/Eid 2026.

“We are one week into the campaign already. I can see the penetration is good. I don’t have exact figures yet, but we are definitely pushing to complete this before Eid,” said Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin in Jakarta on Thursday.

The immunisation campaign is already being conducted in 50 districts and cities. The minister emphasised the importance of completing the drive before the Eid holiday because the mass movement of people during this period creates significant transmission risks.

The Health Minister noted that a single measles case can infect 12-18 other people. “To halt transmission the way we did with COVID, we need 95 per cent of the population to have immunity through immunisation,” he said.

The Health Ministry has also announced plans to set up vaccination service points at transit stations to reach travellers and their children who have not yet received the measles-rubella (MR) vaccine. The acting director-general for disease control said the ministry is ready to provide vaccinations to travellers with unvaccinated children ahead of the busy holiday season.