Measles vaccine dubbed a weapon of mass destruction, Health Ministry says it's a hoax.

JAKARTA — The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) has emphasised that claims the measles, rubella vaccine (MR) contains microchips and is a weapon of mass destruction are hoaxes. Director General of Pharmacy and Medical Devices at the Ministry of Health, Lucia Rizka Andalusia, reminded the public not to easily trust misinformation or claims that vaccines contain microchips harmful to humans. ‘Information that the vaccine contains microchips or weapons of mass destruction is hoaxes and cannot be substantiated,’ she said during a virtual press conference on Friday, 6 March 2026. Lucia acknowledged that there is currently a lot of misinformation about the MR vaccine amid rising measles transmission. She said the MR vaccine’s contents have been tightly evaluated by regulators, namely BPOM (Badan Pengawas Obat dan Makanan). ‘In Indonesia there is BPOM, and also the World Health Organization (WHO). This vaccine has undergone safety and effectiveness testing,’ she emphasised. Therefore, Lucia urged the public, especially parents, not to worry about vaccinating their children. She added that the central and regional governments will continue to ensure vaccine availability, smooth distribution, and the delivery of vaccination services in Indonesia. ‘We hope public participation in the immunisation programme will continue to be strengthened to protect children from measles and prevent severe complications,’ she concluded.