Sumenep (AP) Indonesia – Three health workers rode bikes to the city of Schmenep, Indonesia, carrying measles vaccine doses and a list of children who needed them. With a blue medical box in hand, they went from home to home to manage the life-saving shots.
Healthcare workers on the wheels are part of the local government Latest initiatives Fatal suppression measles An outbreak on Madura that has been persisting for the past nine months. More than 2,600 children have already been infected this year, with 20 dead.
However, efforts to stop the outbreak from spreading primarily through the Muslim population have been partially hampered by concerns that some measles vaccines may not be met Halal standards for Islam Because they use stabilizers derived from pigs.
Pig-derived gelatin is widely used as a stabilizer to ensure that vaccines remain safe and effective during storage and transport, presenting a dilemma for religious communities who view pigs as ritually dirty. Many Islamic scholars say vaccines containing gelatin stabilizers can be used under religious law, as well as other medical products with ingredients derived from pigs under certain conditions.
Indonesian religious leaders determined in 2018 that vaccines with pig gelatin were haram, or banned, but Muslims advised that other shots should be used until they are available “for the benefit of society.”
Religious concerns promote vaccine hesitation for some
Parents will wait for their children during the post-event measles vaccination campaign at a kindergarten in Schmenep, Madura, Inura, on Monday, September 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alankara)
At Sumenep, many people are even reluctant to discuss their religious concerns.
Pujiati Wahyuni, a 31-year-old Muslim mother and nurse, knows parents who refuse vaccines for their children for religious reasons, but recently received their daughter’s vaccine at Islamic kindergarten in Pamolokan village.
“Yes, there are a few. Islam is a big religion. Maybe some Muslims don’t just want to be vaccinated, not just now, but from birth,” Wahiuni said.
The latest initiative from the local government begins in August and includes access to more than 78,000 vaccines that local children will distribute through local clinics, delivered directly to their home residents and taken to schools.
The hope is that this campaign will help prevent future outbreaks, infections and deaths. But they cannot force passive parents, said Musthafa, general secretary of the Indonesian Urema Council of Sumenep.
“We have great hope for Muslims in Indonesia. Indonesia is consuming it. In this case, let’s ask the government to find the halal vaccine to the Health Bureau and the Ministry of Health,” Massafa said.
Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim country, has reported previous outbreaks of measles, but mostly Vaccination range gap.
In 2018, a major outbreak of highly infectious diseases occurred in eastern Papua, resulting in dozens of deaths. Indonesia’s Ulema Council said that due to reluctance on several vaccines, the measles-rubera vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India contained ingredients derived from pigs, but allowed it to be used until an alternative to halal is available.
The Serum Institute declined to request comment from the Associated Press.
Vaccination rates are declining
Health workers show a vial of measles-Rubella vaccine during a vaccination campaign in Schmenep, Madura, Indula, on Monday, September 8, 2025 (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Globally, World Health Organization 84% of children said they received the first measles vaccine last year, and 76% said they received two doses. However, experts say the measles vaccine rate needs to reach 95% to prevent the outbreak. Sixty countries said they reported a major outbreak of measles last year.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, Indonesia’s measles vaccination rate fell below the national target in 2023. In 2023, the measles-lubera vaccination reached its target of 86.6%, and in 2024 the number fell to 82.3%.
May to July – Peak of outbreaks in Sumenep – The isolation rooms at the community hospital were full as staff were treated more than 100 measles cases daily.
Medical staff stands in the isolated ward of measles patients at Moanwar Hospital, Meenep, Madura, Indula, on Wednesday, September 10th, 2025 (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
At the Islamic Kindergarten in Pamolokan village, the head of the community health centre met the student’s mother before the vaccine was administered, urging them to protect their children by reducing the spread of measles in Indonesia.
Despite being hesitant about the vaccine ingredients, Ayu Resa Etika, 28, from Kevennan village, was able to get a second dose that was delayed after seeing many local children hospitalized with measles.
“It’s not halal so I have a bit of doubt. But nonetheless, this is for the health of the child,” Etika said. “The effect is very extraordinary. It can cause death. If your son hasn’t been vaccinated against measles, that’s the risk.
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Associated Press writer Aniruddha Ghosal and Aniruddha Ghosal of Hanoi, Vietnam contributed to this report.
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Associated Press’ Religious Reporting will be supported through collaboration with the Associated Press and Conversation, along with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is responsible for this content only.
