ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — Indonesia is making steady progress in expanding childhood immunization coverage, with millions more children now protected against vaccine-preventable diseases, according to the latest global estimates released by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.
The 2025 WHO/UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC) show that Indonesia improved coverage for the third dose of the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis-containing vaccine (DTP3) and the third dose of hepatitis B vaccine (HepB3), rising from 78% in 2024 to 82% in 2025.
The increase means that more than 3.6 million children in Indonesia completed their basic immunization schedule in 2025, receiving essential protection against serious infectious diseases.
Indonesia also recorded progress in reaching children who previously had no access to routine vaccines. The estimated number of zero-dose children declined from 748,000 in 2024 to 657,000 in 2025, reflecting expanded access to immunization services across communities.
“Indonesia’s progress shows what is possible when we work together to reach children with lifesaving vaccines,” said Dr N. Paranietharan, WHO Representative to Indonesia.
He emphasized that further efforts are needed to ensure all children receive protection against diseases such as measles, polio and pneumonia.
“Sustaining progress will require stronger routine immunization services, focused efforts to reach underserved populations and continued investment in high-quality immunization programmes,” he said.
Closing the Remaining Immunization Gaps
UNICEF Indonesia Representative Maniza Zaman said immunization remains one of the most effective public health interventions and a fundamental part of every child’s right to health.
“We congratulate the Government of Indonesia, health workers and communities across the country for the notable progress made in reducing the number of zero-dose children,” she said.
She highlighted that Indonesia’s achievement demonstrates the impact of strong leadership, innovation and community engagement, while stressing the need to accelerate efforts to reach children who remain unreached or under-immunized.
Although overall immunization coverage has improved, progress remains uneven across different vaccines.
More girls received the HPV vaccine in 2025, strengthening protection against cervical cancer later in life. However, coverage for several other vaccines remained unchanged or declined, leaving some children vulnerable to diseases including tuberculosis, pneumonia and measles.
Maintaining high vaccination coverage across all recommended vaccines is critical. When fewer children are vaccinated, infectious diseases can spread more easily and outbreaks become more likely.
Ensuring that every child receives every recommended vaccine on time remains essential to protecting families, communities and future generations.
Strengthening Indonesia’s Immunization System
To build on progress, WHO and UNICEF continue supporting the Government of Indonesia through several priorities, including:
– Expanding vaccination access for unimmunized children, particularly in remote and underserved communities;
– Improving coverage of vaccines against priority diseases such as measles, rubella, polio and pneumococcal infections;
– Strengthening routine immunization systems and vaccine-preventable disease surveillance through the use of local health data.
These efforts are part of the broader Immunization Agenda 2030, which aims to ensure that no one is left behind and that more people across the Western Pacific Region are protected by vaccines throughout their lives.
By 2030, countries and partners are working to reduce the number of children missing essential vaccines, achieve and sustain measles and rubella elimination, and expand access to vaccines at all ages, including HPV vaccination to prevent cervical cancer.
Vaccination as an Investment in Indonesia’s Future
WHO and UNICEF emphasized that immunization remains one of the most cost-effective investments in public health.
Every US$1 invested in immunization can generate up to US$54 in health, social and economic benefits by preventing disease, reducing healthcare costs, avoiding outbreaks and supporting healthier, more productive societies.
Indonesia’s continued progress in immunization reflects its commitment to strengthening public health resilience and investing in the future of its children. (Midwan)
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