Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Deputy Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Lestari Moerdijat asked the government to raise public awareness about the importance of vaccinations for child development.This awareness is crucial because many children throughout the country still have not received vaccinations at an early age.”Basic vaccinations are the foundation for the growth and development of every child, which determines the future of the nation,” Lestari said in a statement on Saturday.She emphasized that efforts to increase public trust in basic vaccinations must be consistently carried out to protect the younger generation.Citing data from the Indonesian Pediatrician Association IDAI, more than two million children in Indonesia had not received basic immunizations as of April 2026.This zero dose situation results in children experiencing suboptimal growth and making them significantly more vulnerable to preventable diseases.According to Lestari, low public awareness is due to factors including widespread misinformation linked to vaccine safety and halal status.This misinformation has frequently led to public doubt regarding the effectiveness and safety of the government's national immunization program.Therefore, she urged the government to strengthen communication down to the grassroots level to ensure that benefits are understood by all levels of society.Once the community has been properly educated, she continued, the government will build adequate health facilities in many locations to improve access.The provision of more vaccination centers will make it easier for families to ensure their children receive the necessary medical protection.With these coordinated efforts, she expects that child vaccination and immunization rates in Indonesia will continue to increase.“It will build strong herd immunity as a foundation for creating a healthy and competitive future generation,” Lestari concluded.