Health Ministry to Integrate Free Health Checks and School Immunisations from 2026

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has stated that starting in 2026, the Ministry of Health will integrate the Free Health Check (Cek Kesehatan Gratis/CKG) programme with school child immunisations into a single initiative in an effort to broaden immunisation coverage. Speaking in Jakarta on Tuesday, Budi noted that the 2026 school immunisation figures are still pending the new academic year, but a decline in immunisation rates among school-age children was recorded in 2025. “Why did that happen? Because last year we also carried out Free Health Checks in schools. This caused a clash in human resources and activities. As they were two different activities, resources were not utilised optimally,” he said. He mentioned that merging the two programmes is intended to eliminate discrepancies in timing and resources for conducting health checks and health services in schools, particularly at the start of the new academic year. “We will pursue diphtheria and tetanus vaccinations,” he said. Budi expressed hope that this integration would allow education regarding routine immunisation schedules to be better communicated to the public. During a meeting with the House of Representatives (DPR RI), Budi also outlined national immunisation achievements. He stated that the ministry would leverage four national moments to increase immunisation coverage. In July, during National Children’s Day week, a supplementary immunisation programme will be held with a larger target of 240,000 children and 80,000 adults. “We will also link it with the Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia, conducting another supplementary immunisation programme, and again on National Health Day in November,” he said. Budi explained that the national immunisation programme now covers 14 antigens, with the three latest additions being PCV, HPV, and rotavirus.