Vaccine Booster Decided Next Week, DPR: State Paid BPJS Health Participants And Use Halal Vaccines
JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of Commission IX of the House of Representatives, Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena, gave notes regarding the booster vaccine policy that the government will decide next week. Mainly about free vaccines and halal vaccines.
He said the vaccine booster was placed in the national health insurance system (JKN) whose implementation in the field has been running well so far by BPJS Kesehatan and health facility partners.
There are participants who are paid for by the central government or local governments, the category of recipients of contribution assistance (PBI) and there are those who are independent, either paying themselves or by companies or other people.
"The independent category, of course, helps the government by helping the government by paying for the booster vaccine itself. Meanwhile, for citizens whose BPJS Health membership is paid for by the state, the booster will be paid for by the state," said Melkiades when contacted, Monday, January 4.
For the type of vaccine, Melki said, using domestic vaccines and imported vaccines that have been tested for vaccine efficacy.
"Made in the country and included in the halal category according to President Jokowi's directive which was conveyed directly by him or by the Chairman of KPC PEN Airlangga Hartarto, or the Person in Charge of KPC PEN Java Bali Luhut B Panjaitan using domestic products, Nusantara vaccines and Red and White vaccines," he said.
"Or it could be imported vaccines in the halal category whose final products are made in Indonesia that pass the EUA BPOM and the MUI and PBNU halal categories, namely Sinovac and Zifivax," he said.
It is known, the Government will determine the paid or free COVID-19 vaccine booster on January 10. The decision awaits a study by the Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (Itagi) regarding a vaccine booster using a half dose (half dose) of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine.
Minister of Health (Menkes) Budi Gunadi Sadikin said the government currently has 113 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. The government will provide free booster vaccines if Itagi's research states half the vaccine dose is effective. "So all booster vaccines can be fulfilled from free ones, but this is under discussion and the results will come out of Itagi's report on January 10," Budi said at a press conference at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Monday, January 3rd.