423,000 Children Unimmunized in 2023, Most in North Sumatra

Based on data from the Indonesian Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), in 2023 there were 423,615 Indonesian children who had not received any immunizations (zero-dose).

This number surged approximately 247% compared to 2022, where there were 122,221 zero-dose children.

In 2023, North Sumatra had the highest number of zero-dose children, with 58,475.

This was followed by Aceh with 52,702 children, and East Java with 45,738 children.

According to Prima Yosephine, Director of Immunization Management at Kemenkes, this issue needs immediate attention because unvaccinated children are at higher risk of contracting diseases.

"These children will be at high risk because they are unprotected. Therefore, diseases in that area or environment will also spread more easily," Prima said in a press conference on the Kemenkes YouTube channel, Monday (March 18, 2024).

The following is a list of the top 10 provinces with the highest number of children who did not receive any immunizations (zero-dose) nationally in 2023:

1. North Sumatra: 58,475 children
2. Aceh: 52,702 children
3. East Java: 45,738 children
4. West Sumatra: 32,774 children
5. East Nusa Tenggara (NTT): 28,941 children
6. Riau: 26,730 children
7. Central Java: 15,534 children
8. West Kalimantan: 13,347 children
9. South Kalimantan: 12,680 children
10. Central Papua: 11,273 children

In 2023, Kemenkes conducted a survey with Nielsen to determine why parents did not bring their children for immunization.

The results showed that the majority, or about 38%, of parents were afraid their children would receive double immunizations, i.e., being injected with more than one vaccine at the same time.

However, according to Prima, this is not a problem. "At certain ages, double immunization is necessary to ensure children receive immunizations according to the ideal schedule, and it's quite safe," she said.

Another 18% of parents did not bring their children for immunization because of scheduling conflicts, and 12% due to fear of side effects.