A nationwide vaccination campaign began in Yogyakarta on Tuesday to help prevent the spread of measles and rubella, two viral diseases that can often prove fatal, especially in children.

As religious beliefs and false rumors continued to impede vaccinations in some parts of the country, measles and rubella remain very real threats to Indonesian children, prompting the government to launch a major vaccination campaign.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said the government fully supported the implementation of the measles and rubella (MR) immunization program to protect Indonesian children and to secure their future.

“I want to call on all parties to ensure that all Indonesian children aged 9 months to 15 years get the MR injection,” he said in his remarks during the launch of the MR Immunization Campaign at Madrasah Tsanawiyah Negeri 10 state Islamic junior high school in Ngaglik, Sleman regency.

Jokowi said very few Indonesian children had received the MR immunization, amounting to only around 0.05 percent, while ideally, 95 percent or even 100 percent of children should be vaccinated. “My message is: Don’t lightly take measles and rubella because they are dangerous to children. Without immunization, MR [in pregnant women] can cause birth defects to newborn babies,” he said.

The MR immunization is aimed at 34.96 million children. In the first stage, the immunization will be conducted in all areas across Java Island from August to September while for children outside Java, the vaccination program will be delivered in 2018.

“It is hoped Indonesia will be free from measles and rubella by 2020,” said Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Puan Maharani.

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