While overseeing outbreak management in Sumenep, Madura, East Java, on Thursday, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated that the government has prepared 11,000 vials of the measles vaccine. On average, each vial can cover shots for eight children.
“Our target is to complete the vaccination within two weeks. If we achieve this, it should significantly reduce the incidence of measles,” he said.
Sadikin emphasized that measles is not just a common communicable disease—it can be fatal. One infected person can spread the virus to up to 18 others. Therefore, the government’s first step in addressing the outbreak is to accelerate immunization coverage.
The minister also revealed plans to establish a special laboratory in Madura, enabling early detection of measles without having to send samples all the way to Surabaya.
A local laboratory, he said, will greatly improve specimen testing, allowing immunization in entire sub-districts immediately after a case is confirmed.
Sadikin highlighted the importance of public involvement in early detection. By recognizing measles symptoms, families, village officials, and public order personnel can actively intervene to prevent further spread.
He also warned about the dangers of hoaxes, which can undermine vaccination efforts. “There are messages circulating on WhatsApp discouraging people from vaccinating. This is extremely dangerous and heartless. So far, 20 children have died because they were misled by such misinformation,” he stated.
From February to August 2025, 20 children have died from measles, a situation that has become a serious concern for the government.
With mass immunization and the planned early detection laboratory, Sadikin expressed hope that no more children would fall victim to this deadly disease.
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Translator: Mecca Yumna Ning Prisie
Editor: M Razi Rahman
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
