Luhut: Parallel Third COVID-19 Vaccination In All Provinces Starting In 2022

BADUNG - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, said the third dose of COVID-19 vaccination or booster will run parallel in all provinces in the country starting January 2022.

"There is no province (priority), everything is directly parallel", said Luhut after opening the 2021 Health Business Gathering in Nusa Dua, Badung Regency, Bali, quoted by Antara, Friday, December 3.

Luhut added that the booster COVID-19 vaccination will be obtained by some Indonesians for free and some for a fee.

"Some are paid. Our lower class people don't pay or are free, that's about 100 million people, the others pay. I'll definitely pay for it", he said.

Regarding the price of the booster vaccine, said Luhut, it is still being calculated by the Ministry of Health. "Everything is recommended, it is mandatory to get a booster or a third injection", he said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, responded to Luhut's statement saying that the price range for the booster COVID-19 vaccine is below IDR 300,000.

"Initially, but from Mr. Luhut, yes, from Mr. Luhut's age", said Budi Gunadi.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Bali Provincial Health Office, Dr. Ketut Suarjaya, added that judging by the scheme, the booster COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be independently funded by the community.

"Except for recipients of BPJS Health contribution assistance, it means that they come from underprivileged groups. The plan is like that, later we will see the technical guidelines again. The technical guidelines have not been released yet", he said.

According to Suarjaya, after the technical instructions are available, it will only be possible to see which areas or community groups can get priority for the COVID-19 vaccine.