Jakarta [Indonesia], November 22 (ANI): The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared the end of Indonesia’s poliovirus type-2 outbreak, marking a major milestone in the country’s public health efforts after years of low vaccination coverage. The announcement came on November 19 after no poliovirus was detected in children or in the environment since June 2024.
According to the Ministry of Health, nearly 60 million additional doses of polio vaccine were administered nationwide as part of the emergency response, WHO said. Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin credited the achievement to the dedication of healthcare workers, the cooperation of parents, and support from global partners. “We have managed to stop the spread of polio in Indonesia thanks to the dedication of our health workers, commitment of parents and communities to get the children vaccinated, and the support of our partners. Every child deserves protection. We must keep working to make sure polio does not return by ensuring all children receive complete age-appropriate polio immunizations,” he said.
He also warned that the threat of polio persists in areas where immunization coverage remains low.
WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala said Indonesia’s success strengthens the entire region’s polio-free status. “Indonesia’s success marks a vital step toward a polio-free world. It also reinforces the entire WHO Western Pacific Region’s ability to retain its polio-free status, an achievement we proudly reached 25 years ago,” he said, urging all countries to stay vigilant.
The outbreak began in October 2022 with the first case detected in Aceh. Additional cases later emerged in Banten, West Java, Central Java, East Java, North Maluku, Central Papua, Highland Papua, and South Papua, with the last case reported on June 27, 2024.
In response, the Indonesian government launched multiple rounds of vaccination campaigns using the novel OPV-2 (nOPV2) vaccine and strengthened routine immunization coverage. The percentage of children receiving their second dose of the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) rose from 63 percent in 2023 to 73 percent in 2024.
To bolster long-term protection, Indonesia introduced a hexavalent vaccine combining DPT-HB-Hib and IPV, offering immunity against six diseases in a single shot. The program began in October 2025 in Yogyakarta, West Nusa Tenggara, Bali, and six Greater Papua provinces, with nationwide expansion planned for next year.
Independent assessments under the Global Polio Eradication Initiative were conducted in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The review concluded that Indonesia had implemented a high-quality response and halted transmission, fulfilling all criteria for outbreak closure.
UNICEF Indonesia Representative Maniza Zaman said the achievement demonstrated the power of collective action. “This shows what is possible when communities, health workers, and partners unite. We must keep up the momentum so every child receives the immunization they need to grow up healthy and free from polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases.”
The Ministry of Health said it will continue strengthening surveillance, routine immunization, and community engagement to ensure the disease does not return, according to WHO.
The milestone was achieved through collaboration between the Indonesian government, WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, CHAI, Rotary International, and thousands of frontline health workers across the country.
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