Riau province leads Indonesia in catch-up immunization coverage

Riau province has achieved the highest national coverage in Indonesia for the 2026 catch-up immunization program. According to Ministry of Health data as of October 19, 2026, Riau ranks first in the country for two specific age groups: infants under 12 months and children under two years old.

For infants under 12 months, Riau reported a 15 percent coverage rate, with 12,958 children receiving at least one missed dose out of a target of 85,337. This significantly exceeds the national average of 4 percent. For children aged 12 to 24 months, the province reported a 7 percent coverage rate among a target group of 84,382 children.

Acting Governor SF Hariyanto credited the success to the collaborative efforts of health workers, Posyandu cadres, and health departments from the provincial to the district levels. He emphasized that while the achievement is significant, officials must not become complacent and should continue efforts to ensure every child receives their full immunization rights to prevent diseases such as measles, rubella, diphtheria, and polio.