IDAI: Dengue Prevention Must Be Comprehensive, Vaccination as One of the Efforts
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — The Indonesian Paediatric Society (IDAI) emphasises the importance of comprehensive prevention of dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF), especially among children who are a vulnerable group. This was conveyed during World Immunisation Week 2026, amid the trend of increasing dengue cases in Indonesia.
Chair of the Child Immunisation Task Force of the Indonesian Paediatric Society, Prof. Dr. dr. Hartono Gunardi, Sp.A, Subsp.T.K.P.S(K), explained that DHF has an unpredictable disease course and can deteriorate rapidly. “Initial symptoms such as sudden high fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, to nausea or vomiting can develop into serious conditions like severe bleeding and shock,” he said, quoted from a press release on Wednesday (6/5/2026).
He added that children are a group that requires special attention. Around 75 percent of DHF cases occur in ages 5–44 years, while the largest proportion of deaths, around 41 percent, occurs in the 5–14 years age group.
According to him, this condition is influenced by the developing immune system in children and delays in recognising symptoms. Therefore, a comprehensive prevention approach is needed.
“From environmental control through 3M Plus to additional protection. Health workers also play a role in helping the community understand various prevention options, including immunisation,” he explained.
In line with the latest approval from the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency, dengue immunisation is recommended for children aged 4 to 18 years according to medical indications. Data from the Ministry of Health shows that over the last two decades, the average number of DHF cases has increased nearly threefold. The peak cycle of cases now occurs more quickly, from around 10 years to three years or less, and is no longer seasonal.
In addition to children, adults are also not spared from the risk. Chair of the Adult Immunisation Task Force of the Indonesian Society of Internal Medicine Specialists, dr. Sukamto Koesnoe, SpPD, K-AI, FINASIM, said that dengue can impact productivity, especially in working-age adults. “In patients with comorbidities such as diabetes or hypertension, the risk of complications can be higher and require intensive care,” he said.
Experts emphasise that DHF prevention needs to be carried out consistently and in an integrated manner, including maintaining environmental cleanliness, increasing vigilance against symptoms, and consulting health workers regarding appropriate protection measures.
Meanwhile, collaboration between private parties such as Takeda and Halodoc is mentioned as one of the efforts to expand education and access to health services for the community, particularly in increasing awareness of DHF prevention. World Immunisation Week, commemorated every end of April, is hoped to serve as a reminder for the community to be more proactive in protecting themselves and their families from DHF risks.
PT Takeda Innovative Medicines together with Halodoc announced a strategic partnership in a joint effort to prevent DHF. Through this partnership, Takeda and Halodoc present initiatives that include education for health workers regarding DHF and its prevention efforts, as well as various public education activities through the Halodoc digital platform. The public can also access doctor consultations to obtain accurate information about DHF and preventive measures that can be taken, including vaccination among them.
President Director of PT Takeda Innovative Medicines, Andreas Gutknecht, stated that dengue is a disease that can develop into a serious and life-threatening condition. Currently, there is no specific cure for it, so treatment focuses more on symptom management. Therefore, prevention is very important.
Meanwhile, CEO & Co-founder of Halodoc, Jonathan Sudharta, said that access to DHF vaccination services on Halodoc surged nearly twofold in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the fourth quarter of 2025. This proves that the community has a need to access DHF vaccination more easily.