Social media rumours discourage public from vaccinating children

Jakarta — The chairman of the management board of the Indonesian Paediatric Association (Ikatan Dokter Anak Indonesia, IDAI), Dr. dr. Piprim Basarah Yanuarso Sp.A Subsp.Kardio (K), has stated that negative rumours circulating on social media regarding immunisation significantly influence public decisions to withhold vaccination from their children to protect against communicable diseases.

“Besides the influence of the pandemic, there is widespread anxiety being perpetuated, especially now with social media where there are many platforms—Instagram, Threads, Twitter, TikTok—all of them together causing public distress,” said Piprim.

Piprim noted that measles cases had previously begun to decline in Indonesia due to adequate immunisation coverage protecting young children. However, rumours on social media creating fear around vaccines have caused coverage to drop, leading to outbreaks resurging.

“Because measles is highly contagious, once immunisation coverage is disrupted and drops by just 20 per cent, there is already an outbreak. Particularly when there are pockets of people who refuse vaccination altogether. This becomes a source from which the virus proliferates and spreads everywhere,” said Piprim.

He also urged parents to protect children before the Eid holiday by keeping them away from crowds and protecting them especially from unknown individuals who may touch or kiss them amid the current measles outbreak situation.

For protection, Piprim recommends that if it is time for babies and young children to be vaccinated, parents should complete vaccination before Eid and before gathering with large groups as one of the measures to prevent communicable diseases.