Indonesian Public Trusts Science, Yet Why Does Immunisation Remain a Debate?

Research published in Nature Human Behaviour in January 2025 recorded that the level of public trust in scientists in Indonesia reached 3.84 on a scale of 5, higher than the global average of 3.62. This figure places Indonesia on par with Malaysia and Mexico. But this number feels incongruous when we look at the reality on the ground. The Director of Dissemination and Utilisation of Science and Technology at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Yudi Darma, cautioned that high trust does not automatically translate into public engagement in the scientific agenda. The public feels their voices are rarely heard. There is a gap between public expectations and the direction of research being conducted. Other data from the ministry even states that a large part of the daily lives of Indonesians remains far removed from science and technology. As a result, the public becomes more susceptible to believing hoaxes and baseless information. So how do we explain the fact that amidst this relatively high trust, Indonesia is struggling with an immunisation crisis?

Throughout early 2026, measles cases in Indonesia surged dramatically. By February 2026 alone, 8,810 suspected cases and 12 extraordinary events had been recorded across six provinces. In the first week of 2026, around 2,932 suspected cases were recorded, marking the initial peak of the year’s outbreak. By early March 2026, there were 10,453 suspected measles cases, with 8,372 confirmed. Amidst this surge, the Ministry of Health acknowledged a budget shortfall of approximately Rp1 trillion for the national immunisation programme in 2026. Meanwhile, more than 2 million children in Indonesia had not received basic immunisation, classified as zero dose, as of April 2026.

Vaccine hesitancy is a serious obstacle. A real-world case emerged in Banten, where a housewife expressed worry about the measles outbreak, but this concern was not enough to convince her to vaccinate her four children. Her fear was triggered by misinformation on social media about vaccines causing paralysis. Her first child had a fever after receiving a tuberculosis vaccine as a baby, and this experience was reinforced by various posts that made her even more afraid. She chose to provide nutritious food and vitamins as an alternative to vaccination. A similar case was found in Makassar, where a 46-year-old entrepreneur chose not to vaccinate his five children due to concerns that the vaccine content was not halal, despite the Indonesian Ulema Council issuing a fatwa in 2018 permitting vaccines for the sake of public health, even if they contain porcine gelatin. A study by data firm Drone Emprit found that anti-vaccine rhetoric exists on almost all major social media platforms in Indonesia, with a significant number of people exposed to it. Anti-vaccine groups are generally smaller but tend to be more vocal. Many influencers use their platforms to sell unproven herbal remedies as alternatives. As a result, herd immunity is disrupted.

Amidst the noise of hoaxes and doubt, the history of medical science offers powerful reminders. In 1921, a 14-year-old boy named Leonard Thompson lay dying in a coma from diabetes in Toronto. At that time, type 1 diabetes was a death sentence. But Frederick Banting and Charles Best injected an extract from the pancreas into his thigh. Within hours, Leonard regained consciousness. Other dying children were gradually brought back to life. This was one of the most emotional moments in the history of medicine. Another story concerns the polio vaccine. Dr. Jonas Salk discovered his vaccine in 1955. The trials involved 1.8 million children. When asked who held the patent, Salk replied, ‘There is no patent. Could you patent the sun?’ He gave the vaccine to the world for free. In Indonesia, the first mass polio vaccination campaign began in 1959. The Salk and Albert Sabin oral vaccines were decisive in Indonesia’s fight against polio. After three consecutive National Immunisation Weeks in 1995, 1996, and 1997, the indigenous wild poliovirus was no longer detected in Indonesia from 1996. In March 2014, Indonesia received polio-free certification from the WHO. Yet today, Indonesia is back on the list of countries monitored for polio. The polio vaccine is even a mandatory requirement for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims because of this status. Two diseases once considered a curse can now be prevented. But these stories are almost forgotten. The public is more familiar with vaccine debates on their timelines than with the story of how vaccines once saved millions of Indonesian children from polio.

Science should not be politicised. We too often present science as a controversial item that needs defending. In fact, the most effective way to restore public trust is to retell the scientific miracles that have truly occurred. We also do not need to give excessive attention to laboratory findings that are far from human application. An example is the anti-angiogenic therapy that successfully killed tumours in mice in 1996, which was hyped as a miracle cure but failed completely when tested on humans. Such cases only add to public disappointment. In Indonesia, the challenge is more complex. Public trust in scientists is relatively high, but participation is low. There is a gap between public expectations and the direction of research. Scientists are perceived as not being open enough to feedback. The public feels their voices are rarely heard. Fortunately, there are efforts underway. The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology launched the Semesta Programme to promote inclusive, applicable, and sustainable science and technology. The Conversation Indonesia has also partnered with the Directorate General of Science and Technology to bring science closer to the public.