Ministry Of Health Involves Expert Team To Discuss Vaccination And Isoman During Endemic

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Health involved a number of expert teams to formulate a COVID-19 vaccination and patient care scheme that took effect when the health emergency status in Indonesia was officially revoked by President Joko Widodo.

"Regarding the COVID-19 vaccination, the expert team is still discussing it, including determining the actual tariff if the vaccine has to be paid," said Head of the Communication and Public Service Bureau of the Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, as reported by ANTARA, Friday, June 16.

The team of experts involved came from epidemiologists, the Indonesia Technical Advisory Group of Immunization (ITAGI), as well as internal teams from representatives of the Directorate of Immunization and the Directorate of Surveillance of the Indonesian Ministry of Health.

Nadia said the COVID-19 vaccination scheme after the emergency was lifted would be integrated into the routine immunization program that had been held by the government.

"Because this vaccination is an adult target, so it might be more like a meningitis vaccination or other adult vaccine," he said.

If the paid vaccination scheme is implemented, said Nadia, the relevant authorities need to ensure the availability of vaccines in all health facilities providing services.

"Maybe not all puskesmas provide vaccines like this, but all of this is still under discussion," he said.

Regarding the self-isolation policy (isoman), all financing is the responsibility of individuals, including telemedicine services.

"What is clear is that the financing will follow the existing financing that has BPJS Kesehatan or other insurance to follow suit. It can also take advantage of telemedicine services," he said.

Previously, President Joko Widodo had decided that Indonesia would immediately enter the status of the COVID-19 endemic by considering the number of daily cases and active cases that were sloping and the wide scope of COVID-19 vaccination coverage.

"We have decided to enter the endemic, but when it is announced, (this) has only been finalized, within a week, two weeks," said Jokowi after opening the National Coordination Meeting (Rakornas) for Government Internal Supervision in 2023 in Jakarta, Wednesday (14/6).

Jokowi ensured that the status of the COVID-19 endemic would be announced in June 2023. Currently, he continued, the Government is finalizing the transition process from pandemic to endemic.