Indonesia continues school immunization program following vaccine safety review

The Indonesian Ministry of Health has confirmed that the 2026 School Children Immunization Month (BIAS) program will proceed as scheduled. This decision follows a causality study regarding a serious reported adverse event following immunization (KIPI) involving a student in Karo Regency, North Sumatra, who received the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

Investigations conducted by the National Commission for KIPI and local health authorities classified the incident, which involved meningoencephalitis, as “inconsistent (coincident).” The study concluded there was insufficient evidence to establish a causal link between the HPV vaccine and the student's condition, attributing the illness to underlying factors unrelated to the vaccine.

In Binjai, local officials are actively promoting the BIAS program to ensure child protection. Authorities are encouraging parents to support immunization efforts and are working to combat misinformation that may cause hesitation regarding vaccine safety. Health officials emphasized that immunization remains a critical tool in preventing diseases such as polio, diphtheria, pertussis, and tuberculosis.