Experts refute 'natural' immunity claims as Indonesia battles measles outbreak
- Published on March 24, 2026 at 08:32
- 3 min read
- By Ramadani SAPUTRA, AFP Indonesia
Harmful claims that getting sick with measles confers better protection than vaccines are spreading online in Indonesia, as the Southeast Asian nation battles outbreaks of the highly contagious disease. While recovering from an infection and vaccination both offer immunity, experts say the former comes with serious risks including immune system damage and in severe cases death.
"Measles is merely a COMMON INFECTION that can be effectively overcome by the natural human immune system," reads part of a lengthy Facebook post that has racked up more than 2,400 shares since it was published March 5, 2025.
It goes on to say children who recovered from the disease would produce natural antibodies "five to 10 times better" than any vaccine.
"Stop killing citizens with WRONG MEDICATIONS and UNSAFE VACCINES," the post further says, adding measles can be treated without hospital treatment through nasal irrigation, gargling with salt water, and consuming fruits.
The post surfaced online as the Indonesian government ramped up a measles vaccination campaign to fight outbreaks of the disease in 11 provinces after recording six deaths as of February 20 (archived link).
The archipelago nation recorded 8,892 cases in the last six months, data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows, the third-highest number in the world after India and Angola (archived link).
Similar anti-vaccination claims surfaced elsewhere on Facebook and TikTok, with misinformed users often touting traditional medicine to treat the disease.
"My child recovered from measles without going to hospital or getting any medicine," one user wrote.
"We should not be provoked by health officers as they don't even know what substances the vaccine contains," another said.
But experts say the measles vaccines are safe and effective, while being infected poses serious health risks.
Risk of death
"While a person, generally, will not become infected again after recovering from measles, natural infection with the measles virus comes with serious risks," according to the WHO (archived link).
"One in 1,000 children who get measles will die. Others will suffer from progressive neurologic disease," Dr. Aaron Milstone, a specialist in infectious diseases in children at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, told AFP on March 17.
"You won't die from the vaccine and will have long-lasting protection, so why take that chance?"
The risks associated with measles also extend beyond its symptoms, according to an article from the American Society for Microbiology (archived link).
"One of the most unique -- and most dangerous -- features of measles pathogenesis is its ability to reset the immune systems of infected patients," it reads.
The effects of this immunity suppression process -- called immune amnesia -- can last for years, making it more difficult for patients to fight off other diseases.
The adverse immune system effects were not seen in vaccinated children, according to an article published in the academic journal Science (archived link).
Safe and effective
Meanwhile, the measles vaccine uses live viruses that are weakened so they trigger an immune response.
"The vaccine viruses don't cause infection," Milstone explained.
"Some children get a fever after the vaccine, but the fever is the body's response to the vaccine and does not have the same risks as an actual virus."
The vaccine used in Indonesia's national immunisation programme underwent robust evaluation, Rizka Andalusia, the health ministry's Director General of Pharmacy and Medical Devices, said in a March 7 statement (archived link).
"This means the vaccines have been confirmed as safe and effective for use," she added. Side effects were mild and temporary.
The false narratives spreading online also prompted Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin to urge the public to stop spreading calls not to take the vaccine, saying that the jabs save lives (archived link).
Baseless remedies
According to the WHO, there is no specific treatment for measles, and vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent the spread of the disease (archived link).
Dr Lee Bee Wah, a paediatrician at the National University of Singapore separately rejected claims that nasal irrigation, gargling with salt water, or consuming fruits could treat the disease (archived link).
"These interventions cannot specifically help the child to overcome the measles infection," she told AFP on March 17.
"The best way not to suffer measles infection is to protect against it. Vaccination produces immunity to keep the virus away."
AFP has debunked other false claims about vaccines here.
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