Analysis

In a recent speech, the governor of West Kalimantan, Indonesia, warned against believing false claims about immunizations, noting that “if left unchecked, hoaxes like this can slowly become poison.” The speech emphasized that polio vaccines protect against paralysis caused by the poliovirus, suggesting that false claims about vaccines have caused a decline in childhood vaccination rates. Most responses to the comments were positive, with many emphasizing the importance of immunizations, comparing vaccines to having an umbrella ready before it rains. However, some social media users claimed that vaccines are unnecessary because children are “free from disease” and accused the governor of trying to harm children.