Fact Check: Did Epstein Files Link Indonesia Blackouts to a Vaccine Plot?

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A TikTok post [archive] is spreading a narrative linking the Epstein Files to rolling blackouts in Indonesia. The account claims the blackouts were intended to develop a vaccine, as per an agreement in the Epstein Files to spread the virus in "Konoha," a fictional term from the anime Naruto that is often used as a metaphor for Indonesia.

The post states that the Epstein Files contained an agreement regarding the gradual development of a vaccine. This plan involved power outages in Indonesia to prevent air conditioning from working, allowing bacteria for vaccine development to thrive in the warm room temperature.

While it does not specify the type of vaccine, this content has been circulating since May 26, 2026, coinciding with news of the Hanta virus outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius. As of June 30, 2026, the video had been shared 1,300 times and liked by 6,000 users. However, is it true that the Epstein Files contained an agreement regarding vaccine development related to the power outages in Indonesia?

FACT CHECK

Tempo's Fact Check team verified the claim by examining the Epstein Files documents, comparing them with official reports, and interviewing experts. The results showed that the Epstein Files contained no plans for vaccine development in Indonesia, and the power outages were not related to any type of vaccine.

Epstein Files Contains No Plans to Spread the Virus in Indonesia

The Epstein Files is a collection of official documents from the United States law enforcement investigation into the criminal activities of Jeffrey Epstein. The billionaire convicted of child sex crimes and human trafficking died in a New York prison on August 10, 2019. The archives include flight logs, phone books, digital forensic evidence, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) records, and court transcripts. A number of world figures are listed in the archives, including Donald Trump, Prince Andrew, Bill Gates, Hillary Clinton, and Elon Musk.

Tempo found no documents containing plans to spread the virus in Indonesia after searching the US Department of Justice directory for the keyword "vaccine." Previously, a similar hoax linked Jeffrey Epstein's correspondence with Gates Foundation founder Bill Gates to a simulated pandemic strain. The content, circulating since early 2026, accused the two of orchestrating the COVID-19 pandemic.

In fact, the simulation is a common computer modeling technique used by many countries to map the spread of virus variants and strengthen preparedness for health crises, not a scenario exclusive to Covid-19.

Causes of Power Outages and Vaccine Characteristics

Regarding the power outage in Sumatra in May 2026, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) stated that the blackout was triggered by natural factors, namely a lightning strike on the interconnection network in Merangin, Jambi.

Dr. Arif Nur Muhammad Ansori, a researcher in Virology and Vaccinology from the Graduate School of Airlangga University, emphasized that no Covid-19 vaccine contains bacteria. The mRNA vaccine, for example, only contains temporary genetic instructions for the body's cells to produce viral antigens, plus fat particles, salts, sugars, and buffers.

Similarly, the inactivated virus vaccine contains the killed SARS-CoV-2 virus. "In this type, the killed virus has no ability to reproduce," Arif told Tempo on Monday, June 29, 2026.

Meanwhile, viral vector vaccines use a modified carrier virus without the ability to replicate itself, and protein subunit vaccines only contain certain protein parts of the virus to stimulate an immune response.

Arif added that some other vaccines do use killed or purified bacteria, such as the BCG vaccine for tuberculosis (TB). "However, the bacteria will not grow due to hot weather or power outages," Arif said.

Injected vaccine components work for a limited time to stimulate the immune system and cannot reproduce. Conversely, unused vaccines must be stored at very low temperatures to prevent damage and loss of effectiveness.

CONCLUSION

Tempo's verification concludes that the narrative claiming an agreement to develop a Covid-19 virus or vaccine through power outages in Indonesia in the Epstein Files is false.

TEMPO FACT CHECK TEAM

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